1. Agricultural and Horticultural Enterprises

3. Natural Resources and Environmental Quality

While it doesn’t feel like it lately, northwest Florida gets a LOT of rain. And when I say a lot, I mean the highest average rainfall in the Southeast (tying with Mobile, AL at over 65&#8243;), which rivals pretty much the rest of the country. We get more rain in some of our thunderstorms than [&#8230;]

<figure id="attachment_38581" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-38581" style="width: 300px" class="wp-caption alignleft"><a href="https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/escambiaco/files/2024/01/petrichor-2.jpg"><img decoding="async" fetchpriority="high" class="size-medium wp-image-38581 lazyload" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" alt="" width="300" height="225" data-src="https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/escambiaco/files/2024/01/petrichor-2-300x225.jpg"></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-38581" class="wp-caption-text">Northwest Florida typically receives over 65&#8243; of rainfall every year. Photo credit: Carrie Stevenson, UF IFAS Extension</figcaption></figure>
While it doesn’t feel like it lately, northwest Florida gets a LOT of rain. And when I say a lot, I mean the highest average rainfall in the Southeast (tying with Mobile, AL at <a href="https://climatecenter.fsu.edu/products-services/data/1991-2020-normals/pensacola">over 65&#8243;</a>), which rivals pretty much the rest of the country. We get more rain in some of our thunderstorms than states like Nevada and Arizona get in a full year. This is great news for our rivers, streams, and groundwater, which supply our drinking and irrigation water. But we often get more than we need, with flash floods inundating streets and sometimes homes. So what can we do with this excess?
<figure id="attachment_40305" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-40305" style="width: 300px" class="wp-caption alignright"><a href="https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/escambiaco/files/2024/08/ag-center-landscape-002.jpg"><img decoding="async" class="size-medium wp-image-40305 lazyload" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" alt="" width="300" height="225" data-src="https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/escambiaco/files/2024/08/ag-center-landscape-002-300x225.jpg"></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-40305" class="wp-caption-text">People have been capturing and reusing rainwater for millennia. Photo credit: Carrie Stevenson, UF IFAS Extension</figcaption></figure>
There are plenty of engineering solutions like <a href="https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/escambiaco/2020/12/16/weekly-what-is-it-stormwater-ponds/">stormwater ponds</a>, pipes, pumps, and reservoirs. But if homeowners want to capture a little of that extra rain to use for a sunny day, rain barrels are a great option. Harvesting rainwater is an ancient practice, with aqueducts and cisterns found all over the world and in old archaeological sites. Many of our forebears used it for drinking water before wells and filtration were developed.
<figure id="attachment_40307" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-40307" style="width: 193px" class="wp-caption alignleft"><a href="https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/escambiaco/files/2024/08/bird-barrel.jpg"><img decoding="async" class="size-medium wp-image-40307 lazyload" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" alt="" width="193" height="300" data-src="https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/escambiaco/files/2024/08/bird-barrel-193x300.jpg"></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-40307" class="wp-caption-text">Painted rain barrels can become beautiful additions to a home landscape. Photo credit: UF IFAS Extension</figcaption></figure>
Modern rain barrels involve ancient technology that relies simply on gravity, allowing stormwater to run from a rooftop into a gutter.  The gutter funnels water into a plastic food-grade barrel or other container fitted with screen to keep out debris and insects.
Most rain barrels also have an overflow device near the top (for heavy storms that might fill the barrel) and a spigot at the bottom for filling a watering can or attaching a hose.  Keep in mind the barrels do not have a lot of pressure and cannot irrigate an entire lawn, but are ideal for vegetable gardens and container plants. Rain barrels vary widely in design, but they can be painted to add a decorative touch, or easily screened behind a shrub. Larger containers, typically called <a href="https://ffl.ifas.ufl.edu/media/fflifasufledu/docs/gsi-documents/GSI_Cisterns.pdf">cisterns</a>, may hold hundreds of gallons of water, with the capacity and pressure to run more in-depth irrigation.
<figure id="attachment_40309" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-40309" style="width: 300px" class="wp-caption alignright"><a href="https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/escambiaco/files/2024/08/drilling-spigot-scaled.jpg"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-medium wp-image-40309 lazyload" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" alt="" width="300" height="225" data-src="https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/escambiaco/files/2024/08/drilling-spigot-300x225.jpg"></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-40309" class="wp-caption-text">Drilling a hole for the spigot of a rain barrel. Photo credit: UF IFAS Extension</figcaption></figure>
In addition to reusing rainwater, rain barrels can be an effective means of <a href="https://ffl.ifas.ufl.edu/ffl-and-you/gsi/">reducing stormwater pollution</a>.  During a typical 1” rainstorm, an average home’s roof can yield 600 gallons of rainwater runoff that would normally flow downstream, picking up oils, greases, bacteria, trash, and pesticides along the way that end up in our water bodies.   These pollutants eventually flow downstream to our creeks, bayous, and bays, contributing to non-point source pollution. Rain barrels interrupt that process by collecting runoff before it has a chance to pick up pollutants.
<figure id="attachment_40327" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-40327" style="width: 300px" class="wp-caption alignleft"><a href="https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/escambiaco/files/2024/08/IMG_1316-scaled.jpg"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-medium wp-image-40327 lazyload" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" alt="" width="300" height="225" data-src="https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/escambiaco/files/2024/08/IMG_1316-300x225.jpg"></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-40327" class="wp-caption-text">Hardware store purchases for a rain barrel workshop. Photo credit: Carrie Stevenson, UF IFAS Extension</figcaption></figure>
There are lots of options available commercially for pre-built rain barrels, with a wide range of sizes, designs, and costs. They can also be a <a href="https://ffl.ifas.ufl.edu/ffl-and-you/home-landscapes/diy/rain-barrels/">relatively simple DIY project</a>. For many years, our office has held rain barrel building workshops. These consist of a short talk and a hands-on effort where participants prepay for equipment and leave with a fully assembled rain barrel. Hardware can be found at most home improvement stores, while a couple of local farm supply stores carry food-grade 55-gallon plastic barrels. The only specialized equipment needed is a 6” hole saw, which is used to drill a circular hold in the lid for a roof gutter downspout.
If you&#8217;re interested in more information about rain barrels or building your own, reach out to me at <a href="ctsteven@ufl.edu">ctsteven@ufl.edu</a>!

Northwest Florida typically receives over 65″ of rainfall every year. Photo credit: Carrie Stevenson, UF IFAS Extension
While it doesn’t feel like it lately, northwest Florida gets a LOT of rain. And when I say a lot, I mean the highest average rainfall in the Southeast (tying with Mobile, AL at over 65″), which rivals pretty much the rest of the country. We get more rain in some of our thunderstorms than states like Nevada and Arizona get in a full year. This is great news for our rivers, streams, and groundwater, which supply our drinking and irrigation water. But we often get more than we need, with flash floods inundating streets and sometimes homes. So what can we do with this excess?
People have been capturing and reusing rainwater for millennia. Photo credit: Carrie Stevenson, UF IFAS Extension
There are plenty of engineering solutions like stormwater ponds, pipes, pumps, and reservoirs. But if homeowners want to capture a little of that extra rain to use for a sunny day, rain barrels are a great option. Harvesting rainwater is an ancient practice, with aqueducts and cisterns found all over the world and in old archaeological sites. Many of our forebears used it for drinking water before wells and filtration were developed.
Painted rain barrels can become beautiful additions to a home landscape. Photo credit: UF IFAS Extension
Modern rain barrels involve ancient technology that relies simply on gravity, allowing stormwater to run from a rooftop into a gutter.  The gutter funnels water into a plastic food-grade barrel or other container fitted with screen to keep out debris and insects.
Most rain barrels also have an overflow device near the top (for heavy storms that might fill the barrel) and a spigot at the bottom for filling a watering can or attaching a hose.  Keep in mind the barrels do not have a lot of pressure and cannot irrigate an entire lawn, but are ideal for vegetable gardens and container plants. Rain barrels vary widely in design, but they can be painted to add a decorative touch, or easily screened behind a shrub. Larger containers, typically called cisterns, may hold hundreds of gallons of water, with the capacity and pressure to run more in-depth irrigation.
Drilling a hole for the spigot of a rain barrel. Photo credit: UF IFAS Extension
In addition to reusing rainwater, rain barrels can be an effective means of reducing stormwater pollution.  During a typical 1” rainstorm, an average home’s roof can yield 600 gallons of rainwater runoff that would normally flow downstream, picking up oils, greases, bacteria, trash, and pesticides along the way that end up in our water bodies.   These pollutants eventually flow downstream to our creeks, bayous, and bays, contributing to non-point source pollution. Rain barrels interrupt that process by collecting runoff before it has a chance to pick up pollutants.
Hardware store purchases for a rain barrel workshop. Photo credit: Carrie Stevenson, UF IFAS Extension
There are lots of options available commercially for pre-built rain barrels, with a wide range of sizes, designs, and costs. They can also be a relatively simple DIY project. For many years, our office has held rain barrel building workshops. These consist of a short talk and a hands-on effort where participants prepay for equipment and leave with a fully assembled rain barrel. Hardware can be found at most home improvement stores, while a couple of local farm supply stores carry food-grade 55-gallon plastic barrels. The only specialized equipment needed is a 6” hole saw, which is used to drill a circular hold in the lid for a roof gutter downspout.
If you’re interested in more information about rain barrels or building your own, reach out to me at ctsteven@ufl.edu!

While it doesn’t feel like it lately, northwest Florida gets a LOT of rain. And when I say a lot, I mean the highest average rainfall in the Southeast (tying with Mobile, AL at over 65″), which rivals pretty much the rest of the country. We get more rain in some of our thunderstorms than […]

Weekly “What is it?”: Rain Barrels

Summer brings daily storms in the Sunshine State, and with the rain, you need to control flooding in some neighborhoods. Florida is swimming in 76,000 stormwater ponds. Designed to control flooding, stormwater ponds are not as effective as natural ponds at removing nitrogen, a pollutant that can go downstream into lakes, rivers and other bodies [&#8230;]

Summer brings daily storms in the Sunshine State, and with the rain, you need to control flooding in some neighborhoods. Florida is <a href="https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/news/2019/12/12/an-urbanized-florida-means-more-stormwater-ponds-invasive-plants/">swimming in 76,000 stormwater ponds</a>.
Designed to control flooding, stormwater ponds are not as effective as natural ponds at removing nitrogen, a pollutant that can go downstream into lakes, rivers and other bodies of water, <a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10533-024-01153-z">new University of Florida research</a> shows.
New neighborhoods must use stormwater-control measures to handle any changes in stormwater runoff.
Stormwater ponds are usually installed before houses because you need to have them in place before any potential hydrological or ecological impacts could occur on downstream waters. But sometimes homes and developments are built around naturally occurring ponds.
Despite the prevalence of stormwater ponds, scientists say the internal processes within them are understudied.&#8217;
<figure id="attachment_46145" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-46145" style="width: 292px" class="wp-caption alignleft"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="wp-image-46145 size-medium lazyload" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" alt="" width="292" height="300" data-src="https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/news/files/2024/07/Stormwater-ponds_Goeckner_073024-292x300.png"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-46145" class="wp-caption-text">Audrey Goeckner checks out samples from a stormwater pond. Courtesy, Audrey Goeckner, UF/IFAS.</figcaption></figure>
That’s why Audrey Goeckner led the new study. Goeckner will earn her Ph.D. from the UF/IFAS <a href="https://cals.ufl.edu/">College of Agricultural and Life Sciences</a> this summer.
As part of her dissertation, Goeckner did this research under the supervision of <a href="https://soils.ifas.ufl.edu/people/faculty/alexander-j-reisinger/">AJ Reisinger</a>, a UF/IFAS assistant professor of <a href="https://soils.ifas.ufl.edu/">soil, water, and ecosystem sciences</a>.
Scientists conducted the study in Melrose (natural ponds) and Bradenton (stormwater ponds). But they said their findings are likely applicable across Florida.
They measured the amount of dinitrogen gas dissolved in ponds. Dinitrogen makes up 80% of the atmosphere, and the amount dissolved in a pond can be used to understand the balance of two competing nitrogen cycling processes: denitrification and nitrogen fixation.
Denitrification is the permanent removal of nitrogen from the system, and it benefits water quality. Nitrogen fixation is an input of nitrogen into the system from the atmosphere, and because it’s a new input of nitrogen, it negatively impacts water quality.
Scientists found that the natural ponds they studied were more likely to remove nitrogen than to produce it by supporting denitrification more than nitrogen fixation. In contrast, stormwater ponds were equally likely to remove or introduce nitrogen by supporting either net denitrification or nitrogen fixation.
“This is important because stormwater ponds are expected to remove nutrients from runoff,” Reisinger said. “But when researchers have compared nitrogen in water coming into stormwater ponds (stormwater runoff) versus going out of stormwater ponds (discharge), stormwater ponds often don’t remove as much nitrogen as we expect.”
The new research supports the concept that stormwater ponds should be recognized as ecosystems that support a range of processes that alter elemental cycles. They’re not just inert bowls of water for stormwater sediments to settle, Goeckner said.
“Stormwater ponds are one of the most commonly used stormwater control measures,” she said. “If water managers are interested in targeting nitrogen removal, this work should prompt them to assess their effectiveness or to consider alternative stormwater control ecosystems.”
###
ABOUT UF/IFAS 
The mission of the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) is to develop knowledge relevant to agricultural, human and natural resources and to make that knowledge available to sustain and enhance the quality of human life. With more than a dozen research facilities, 67 county Extension offices, and award-winning students and faculty in the UF College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, UF/IFAS brings science-based solutions to the state’s agricultural and natural resources industries, and all Florida residents. 
<a href="http://www.ifas.ufl.edu/">ifas.ufl.edu</a>  |  <a href="https://twitter.com/UF_IFAS">@UF_IFAS</a>
&nbsp;

Summer brings daily storms in the Sunshine State, and with the rain, you need to control flooding in some neighborhoods. Florida is swimming in 76,000 stormwater ponds.
Designed to control flooding, stormwater ponds are not as effective as natural ponds at removing nitrogen, a pollutant that can go downstream into lakes, rivers and other bodies of water, new University of Florida research shows.
New neighborhoods must use stormwater-control measures to handle any changes in stormwater runoff.
Stormwater ponds are usually installed before houses because you need to have them in place before any potential hydrological or ecological impacts could occur on downstream waters. But sometimes homes and developments are built around naturally occurring ponds.
Despite the prevalence of stormwater ponds, scientists say the internal processes within them are understudied.’
Audrey Goeckner checks out samples from a stormwater pond. Courtesy, Audrey Goeckner, UF/IFAS.
That’s why Audrey Goeckner led the new study. Goeckner will earn her Ph.D. from the UF/IFAS College of Agricultural and Life Sciences this summer.
As part of her dissertation, Goeckner did this research under the supervision of AJ Reisinger, a UF/IFAS assistant professor of soil, water, and ecosystem sciences.
Scientists conducted the study in Melrose (natural ponds) and Bradenton (stormwater ponds). But they said their findings are likely applicable across Florida.
They measured the amount of dinitrogen gas dissolved in ponds. Dinitrogen makes up 80% of the atmosphere, and the amount dissolved in a pond can be used to understand the balance of two competing nitrogen cycling processes: denitrification and nitrogen fixation.
Denitrification is the permanent removal of nitrogen from the system, and it benefits water quality. Nitrogen fixation is an input of nitrogen into the system from the atmosphere, and because it’s a new input of nitrogen, it negatively impacts water quality.
Scientists found that the natural ponds they studied were more likely to remove nitrogen than to produce it by supporting denitrification more than nitrogen fixation. In contrast, stormwater ponds were equally likely to remove or introduce nitrogen by supporting either net denitrification or nitrogen fixation.
“This is important because stormwater ponds are expected to remove nutrients from runoff,” Reisinger said. “But when researchers have compared nitrogen in water coming into stormwater ponds (stormwater runoff) versus going out of stormwater ponds (discharge), stormwater ponds often don’t remove as much nitrogen as we expect.”
The new research supports the concept that stormwater ponds should be recognized as ecosystems that support a range of processes that alter elemental cycles. They’re not just inert bowls of water for stormwater sediments to settle, Goeckner said.
“Stormwater ponds are one of the most commonly used stormwater control measures,” she said. “If water managers are interested in targeting nitrogen removal, this work should prompt them to assess their effectiveness or to consider alternative stormwater control ecosystems.”
###
ABOUT UF/IFAS
The mission of the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) is to develop knowledge relevant to agricultural, human and natural resources and to make that knowledge available to sustain and enhance the quality of human life. With more than a dozen research facilities, 67 county Extension offices, and award-winning students and faculty in the UF College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, UF/IFAS brings science-based solutions to the state’s agricultural and natural resources industries, and all Florida residents. 
ifas.ufl.edu  |  @UF_IFAS

Summer brings daily storms in the Sunshine State, and with the rain, you need to control flooding in some neighborhoods. Florida is swimming in 76,000 stormwater ponds. Designed to control flooding, stormwater ponds are not as effective as natural ponds at removing nitrogen, a pollutant that can go downstream into lakes, rivers and other bodies […]

Natural ponds remove nitrogen more effectively than stormwater ponds

Stormwater ponds are ubiquitous across Sarasota County and Southwest Florida. These features, when managed appropriately, can add great aesthetic value to a community. When improperly managed, however, these features can become a common source of resident concern and complaints. A proper understanding of what these ponds are, and how they are intended to function, is [&#8230;]

Stormwater ponds are ubiquitous across Sarasota County and Southwest Florida. These features, when managed appropriately, can add great aesthetic value to a community. When improperly managed, however, these features can become a common source of resident concern and complaints. A proper understanding of what these ponds are, and how they are intended to function, is a critical first step in their management. The &#8220;Lakeside Living for South Florida Residents&#8221; installment of the <a href="https://sfyl.ifas.ufl.edu/sarasota/how-do-i/use-the-sarasota-county-starter-kit/">Sarasota County Starter Kit Series</a> laid the foundation of this understanding. Below are some key takeaway points from the webinar.
<h3>Stormwater ponds</h3>
Your neighborhood is likely home to a pond where residents enjoy watching the birds and turtles. Many residents and community managers mistake these water features for natural lakes.  These ponds, however, are stormwater ponds. A stormwater pond may not sound as glamourous as a &#8220;lake,&#8221; but stormwater ponds are an important and necessary part of your community. These ponds are pieces of stormwater infrastructure built with purpose.
<h3>Flood mitigation and water treatment</h3>
The primary function of stormwater ponds is to provide a level of flood mitigation for the surrounding community. Stormwater ponds serve as catchment and detainment areas for stormwater runoff, the water than runs across hard surfaces like streets and driveways during rain events. Runoff enters storm drains where it then moves to your community pond.
The secondary role of stormwater ponds is to allow for water quality improvement before runoff moves downstream. As runoff travels across streets and sidewalks it can pick up any number of pollutants along the way. These pollutants may include fertilizers, vegetative debris, metallic break dust, silt and soil, or even pet waste. Your stormwater pond is an area that provides a degree of natural cleansing for this water. As the water resides in the stormwater pond, some pollutants may begin to settle out of the water while others may be removed by some natural biological and microbial actions. This is important because the water in your pond will eventually, through one way or another, head on downstream. Our water is all connected, so the water in your pond may eventually become the same water in our local streams and bays.
<h3>Reduce runoff pollution</h3>
There are many things that we as residents can do to minimize pollutants being carried from our properties by stormwater runoff.
<ul>
<li>Excess fertilizer from our landscapes can contribute nutrient pollution to stormwater runoff. The nutrients that feed our turf and plants are the same nutrients that can feed the naturally occurring algae in our surface waters. Be sure to fertilize appropriately, only using the minimum required amount and always following the product&#8217;s label. Sarasota County has a fertilizer restriction season from June through September where the application of nitrogen-containing fertilizer is prohibited. If you choose to fertilize during the rest of the year, ensure that you choose a product that derives at least 50% of it&#8217;s nitrogen content from &#8220;slow release&#8221; or &#8220;insoluble&#8221; sources. This will be listed on the back label.</li>
<li>Pet waste from our yards and surrounding areas can contribute not only nutrients but pathogens to stormwater runoff. Be sure to always pick up after your pet.</li>
<li>Grass clippings can contain nutrients and should never be allowed to remain on hard surfaces like sidewalks and streets. Grass clippings should never be left near a storm drain or intentionally blown into storm drains or ponds.</li>
<li>Excess irrigation or irrigation that sprays onto hard surfaces can contribute to runoff. This is of particular importance to those who utilize reclaimed water for irrigation as a water conservation measure. Reclaimed water is an incredible tool for lowering our water consumption, but reclaimed water contains residual nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus. It is important not to spray reclaimed water onto hard surfaces like streets or sidewalks where it can contribute to runoff.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Littoral zones</h3>
The littoral zone of a pond is the shallow sloped area around the inside perimeter of the pond that is typically a depth of 5 feet or less. This area allows for the growth of native aquatic emergent vegetation such as pickerelweed, duck potato, gulf spikerush, and golden canna. Emergent plants may play an important role in the overall function and stability of your pond. Emergent plants can help protect your pond&#8217;s banks from the gentle wave action of the pond&#8217;s surface. This wave action may look like only small ripples, but over the years these ripples can contribute to costly and unsightly bank erosion. Emergent plants help to block and deflect these ripples before they contact the banks. Aquatic emergent plants may also aid in the uptake of nutrients, provide habitat for wildlife like turtles and wading birds, and help hide small amounts of floating algae from sight.
<h3>Buffer zones</h3>
Buffer zones are areas meant to separate the water from the land and reduce external pressures on the water. External pressures can refer to things like fertilizer or pesticide application and mowing. Buffer zones consist of taller plants along the bankside perimeter of the pond. Tall plants such as native bunch grasses can produce deeper and more complex root structures than short-mowed turf. These deep root structures can help stabilize soil, and help hold in in place against erosion. Additionally, the presence of tall unmowed plants around the pond&#8217;s banks can help keep heavy mowing equipment away from pond banks which may be saturated, eroded, or otherwise structurally compromised. Buffer zones can be done in a verity of ways. The most common ways to provide a pond buffer are through the installation of native landscaping plants or the installation of a &#8220;no-mow zone,&#8221; which allows the existing turf to grow and be maintained at a height of about 8-12 inches. Whichever buffer method your community chooses, it is important to remember that buffer zones are NOT &#8220;maintenance-free zones.&#8221; No landscape feature is maintenance free. Regular maintenance will be required to keep weeds and invasives out of the buffer zone and to maintain plants at the appropriate height. When done properly, a buffer zone of native bunch grasses, short shrubs, and wildflowers can be a stunning landscape feature to be enjoyed by the whole community.

Stormwater ponds are ubiquitous across Sarasota County and Southwest Florida. These features, when managed appropriately, can add great aesthetic value to a community. When improperly managed, however, these features can become a common source of resident concern and complaints. A proper understanding of what these ponds are, and how they are intended to function, is a critical first step in their management. The “Lakeside Living for South Florida Residents” installment of the Sarasota County Starter Kit Series laid the foundation of this understanding. Below are some key takeaway points from the webinar.
Stormwater ponds
Your neighborhood is likely home to a pond where residents enjoy watching the birds and turtles. Many residents and community managers mistake these water features for natural lakes.  These ponds, however, are stormwater ponds. A stormwater pond may not sound as glamourous as a “lake,” but stormwater ponds are an important and necessary part of your community. These ponds are pieces of stormwater infrastructure built with purpose.
Flood mitigation and water treatment
The primary function of stormwater ponds is to provide a level of flood mitigation for the surrounding community. Stormwater ponds serve as catchment and detainment areas for stormwater runoff, the water than runs across hard surfaces like streets and driveways during rain events. Runoff enters storm drains where it then moves to your community pond.
The secondary role of stormwater ponds is to allow for water quality improvement before runoff moves downstream. As runoff travels across streets and sidewalks it can pick up any number of pollutants along the way. These pollutants may include fertilizers, vegetative debris, metallic break dust, silt and soil, or even pet waste. Your stormwater pond is an area that provides a degree of natural cleansing for this water. As the water resides in the stormwater pond, some pollutants may begin to settle out of the water while others may be removed by some natural biological and microbial actions. This is important because the water in your pond will eventually, through one way or another, head on downstream. Our water is all connected, so the water in your pond may eventually become the same water in our local streams and bays.
Reduce runoff pollution
There are many things that we as residents can do to minimize pollutants being carried from our properties by stormwater runoff.
Excess fertilizer from our landscapes can contribute nutrient pollution to stormwater runoff. The nutrients that feed our turf and plants are the same nutrients that can feed the naturally occurring algae in our surface waters. Be sure to fertilize appropriately, only using the minimum required amount and always following the product’s label. Sarasota County has a fertilizer restriction season from June through September where the application of nitrogen-containing fertilizer is prohibited. If you choose to fertilize during the rest of the year, ensure that you choose a product that derives at least 50% of it’s nitrogen content from “slow release” or “insoluble” sources. This will be listed on the back label.
Pet waste from our yards and surrounding areas can contribute not only nutrients but pathogens to stormwater runoff. Be sure to always pick up after your pet.
Grass clippings can contain nutrients and should never be allowed to remain on hard surfaces like sidewalks and streets. Grass clippings should never be left near a storm drain or intentionally blown into storm drains or ponds.
Excess irrigation or irrigation that sprays onto hard surfaces can contribute to runoff. This is of particular importance to those who utilize reclaimed water for irrigation as a water conservation measure. Reclaimed water is an incredible tool for lowering our water consumption, but reclaimed water contains residual nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus. It is important not to spray reclaimed water onto hard surfaces like streets or sidewalks where it can contribute to runoff.
Littoral zones
The littoral zone of a pond is the shallow sloped area around the inside perimeter of the pond that is typically a depth of 5 feet or less. This area allows for the growth of native aquatic emergent vegetation such as pickerelweed, duck potato, gulf spikerush, and golden canna. Emergent plants may play an important role in the overall function and stability of your pond. Emergent plants can help protect your pond’s banks from the gentle wave action of the pond’s surface. This wave action may look like only small ripples, but over the years these ripples can contribute to costly and unsightly bank erosion. Emergent plants help to block and deflect these ripples before they contact the banks. Aquatic emergent plants may also aid in the uptake of nutrients, provide habitat for wildlife like turtles and wading birds, and help hide small amounts of floating algae from sight.
Buffer zones
Buffer zones are areas meant to separate the water from the land and reduce external pressures on the water. External pressures can refer to things like fertilizer or pesticide application and mowing. Buffer zones consist of taller plants along the bankside perimeter of the pond. Tall plants such as native bunch grasses can produce deeper and more complex root structures than short-mowed turf. These deep root structures can help stabilize soil, and help hold in in place against erosion. Additionally, the presence of tall unmowed plants around the pond’s banks can help keep heavy mowing equipment away from pond banks which may be saturated, eroded, or otherwise structurally compromised. Buffer zones can be done in a verity of ways. The most common ways to provide a pond buffer are through the installation of native landscaping plants or the installation of a “no-mow zone,” which allows the existing turf to grow and be maintained at a height of about 8-12 inches. Whichever buffer method your community chooses, it is important to remember that buffer zones are NOT “maintenance-free zones.” No landscape feature is maintenance free. Regular maintenance will be required to keep weeds and invasives out of the buffer zone and to maintain plants at the appropriate height. When done properly, a buffer zone of native bunch grasses, short shrubs, and wildflowers can be a stunning landscape feature to be enjoyed by the whole community.

Stormwater ponds are ubiquitous across Sarasota County and Southwest Florida. These features, when managed appropriately, can add great aesthetic value to a community. When improperly managed, however, these features can become a common source of resident concern and complaints. A proper understanding of what these ponds are, and how they are intended to function, is […]

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UF/IFAS Extension Initiative 3: Natural Resources and Environmental Quality

All the parts of the Earth that are not human-made and which people use, like fish, trees, minerals, lakes, or rivers. [NALT]

Initiative 2: Water

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Water plays a critical role in sustaining Florida&rsquo;s environment and economic vitality, which are keys to a high quality of life. Florida must enhance and protect its domestic water supply while also meeting the water requirements of agriculture, horticulture, tourism, and industry, as well as the state&rsquo;s 22.6 million inhabitants and its natural systems, all without placing undue pressure on a finite resource.

Planned development, distribution and use of water resources, in accordance with predetermined objectives and with respect to both quantity and quality of the water resources. [AGROVOC]

Stormwater Retention Ponds

Publications

A New Database on Trait-Based Selection of Stormwater Pond Plants

Common Pollutants in Stormwater Runoff and Actions that Homeowners can Take to Reduce Stormwater Pollution

Florida-Friendly Plants for Stormwater Pond Shorelines

Frequently Asked Questions about Stormwater Wet Ponds

Managing Pestiferous Freshwater Aquatic Midge Emergences from Storm Water Retention Ponds

Related IFAS Blog Posts

Weekly “What is it?”: Rain Barrels

Natural ponds remove nitrogen more effectively than stormwater ponds

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