Stormwater ponds are commonly seen throughout the state of Florida. Typically, each is built with the intention to prevent flooding by giving rainwater an area of low elevation to run to and filter stormwater prior to it entering larger watersheds ... READ MORE
Category: Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Lawn, Natural Resources, Water, Wildlife
Wondering how your landscape can protect the environment? The Water Wednesday Team has partnered with the UF/IFAS Communications and developed 11 videos to show you how your landscape can be both esthetically pleasing and environmental friendly. Click ... READ MORE
Category: Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes, Lawn, Natural Resources, Water
What are they and where do they come from? Metals are substances naturally found in the earth’s crust. Humans have used them extensively throughout history. Metals are so crucial for human civilization that historians have even named entire ... READ MORE
Category: , UF/IFAS Extension, Water
Florida is known as the Sunshine State. In fact, it rains a lot here. The annual rainfall amounts range from 40 to 60 inches depending on the location (Florida Climate Center. 2016), which in turns generates a lot stormwater runoff. When it ... READ MORE
Category: Conservation, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Lawn, Natural Resources, Water, WildlifeWhat is it? Nitrate is a chemical compound composed of nitrogen and oxygen. Naturally occurring in low concentrations within the soil, water, and air, nitrate plays a vital role in plant and microbial life cycles. However, excessive amounts ... READ MORE
Category: WaterWhen it comes to household drinking water quality, one of the most common concerns from homeowners is hard water. What is hard water? Water hardness refers to the amount of calcium and magnesium ions in the water. An ion is a particle that ... READ MORE
Category: , Water
The ponds that you see outside your residence are probably not put there by nature, nor are they even close to being naturally occurring. These might be stormwater ponds. Urbanization is one of the boldest impacts on the water cycle. This is ... READ MORE
Category: Conservation, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Invasive Species, Natural Resources, UF/IFAS Extension, Water
This blog is intended to explain the function and importance of littoral vegetation in stormwater ponds and provide a reference for Florida-Friendly plant species that do well in each littoral zone. A stormwater pond's main function is to ... READ MORE
Category: Water
Marion County is experiencing increasing litter along roadways and in recreation areas. A Styrofoam cup here and a plastic bottle there can have huge impacts on the community. Reducing our litter is a community effort and doing so increases ... READ MORE
Category: Natural Resources, Water
Producers have implemented Best Management Practices (BMPs) that maintain or improve water quality, quantity, and soil conditions on their farms for many years. For the purposes of the Florida Department of Agricultural and Consumer Services ... READ MORE
Category: Agribusiness, Agriculture, Crops, Farm Management, Livestock, Water