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. ... READ MORE
Category: Conservation, Natural Resources, Water
Watching news reports showing the aftermath of Hurricane Idalia, most of us can relate to the nerve-wracking feeling of waiting for a storm to arrive. While no one wants to be in the direct path of a hurricane, it’s often a relief to have ... READ MORE
Category: Coasts & Marine, Natural Resources
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 ... READ MORE
Category: Natural Resources, Water
Stormwater ponds are often the centerpiece of a neighborhood. Residents may spend their mornings walking along the pond, frequent the water to watch their favorite wading birds, or even see the pond right from their back window. With so many ... READ MORE
Category: Natural Resources, UF/IFAS Extension, Water, Work & Life![outdoor scene of water body with heavy vegetation on shoreline, and blue skies on horizon. [credit: sarasota county government]](https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/sarasotaco/wp-content/blogs.dir/40/files/2022/11/2020_Water_socialLakeApprecMo_sacoCROP1338x357TINY.png)
Homeowners associations (HOAs) and neighborhoods have critical roles to play in protecting local water quality. HOAs manage thousands of stormwater ponds and countless acres of landscapes across Sarasota County. The way those community assets ... READ MORE
Category: Conservation, Natural Resources, Water
Adding plants in and around a community stormwater pond is a great way to boost the ecosystem services provided by your water feature. Emergent plants in a pond's littoral zone (the shallow shelf-like area between a pond's bank and deep water) ... READ MORE
Category: Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Water, Work & Life
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 ... READ MORE
Category: Conservation, UF/IFAS, Water
More than 76,000 stormwater ponds are woven into Florida neighborhoods. Yet beneath their calm surfaces, these ponds are quietly struggling. Many are overloaded with excess nutrients, fueling algal blooms and degrading water quality. At the ... READ MORE
Category: Home Landscapes, Natural Resources, UF/IFAS, Water
Not all algal blooms are harmful, but Amanda Muni-Morgan hopes to eventually mitigate the impacts of nutrients going into Tampa Bay. Those nutrients – often brought to the estuary by stormwater runoff -- can fuel a harmful algal bloom. As ... READ MORE
Category: Coasts & Marine, Natural ResourcesBRADENTON, Fla. --- Now, in the middle of summer, when those afternoon or evening rains come, stormwater from lawns, driveways and roofs drains down to any of the 76,000 stormwater ponds scattered around Florida. As stormwater flows into ... READ MORE
Category: Lawn, Water