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
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![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/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
« NOTE: This is the second post in a series devoted to what you can do to reduce the duration of the next harmful algal bloom. » As we endure a terrible red tide outbreak on our coast, coupled with blue-green algae clogging inland waters, ... READ MORE
Category: Natural Resources, UF/IFAS Extension, Water
Florida is an amazing state, in many ways. Chief among these is the variety of water resources available to us. We can boast of nearly 3,000 miles of shoreline, more than 650 miles of coastal beaches, some 7,800 freshwater lakes, 700-assorted ... READ MORE
Category: Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes, Lawn, Water, Work & LifeFlorida is an amazing state, in many ways. Chief among these is the variety of water resources available to us. We can boast of nearly 3,000 miles of shoreline, more than 650 miles of coastal beaches, some 7,800 freshwater lakes, 700-assorted ... READ MORE
Category: Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes, Lawn, Water, Work & LifeDo you have tadpoles in your lawn? Do you have a low area in your yard that has standing water after a rain? Do you need to make changes in your landscape to funnel water away from your house? If you answered yes to any of these questions, ... READ MORE
Category: Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes, Natural Resources, UF/IFAS Extension, WaterProtect the Waterfront. Plants planted along the water’s edge, both in the water and along the shoreline have many benefits. They naturally add aesthetic value, help reduce erosion and filter pollution. They create nursery habitat ... READ MORE
Category: Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes, Horticulture, Natural Resources, UF/IFAS Extension, Water, WildlifeI was a curious child, always dipping homemade nets into the ponds in my neighborhood, playing in the muck, watching birds and trying to catch frogs. It never occurred to me as I grew older that these ponds were an important resource. The ditch, ... READ MORE
Category: Agriculture, Home Landscapes, Horticulture, Natural Resources, UF/IFAS Extension, Water