UF/IFAS Okeechobee County Extension

Okeechobee, FL 34972-2578

Phone: (863) 763-6469

E- mail: edayen@ufl.edu 

June 2 , 2006

Feature Article - for immediate release.

Reduce Stormwater Runoff

Great strides have been made here in central Florida to reduce what is called “point sources” of pollution such as smokestacks and sewage discharge.  But a more widely spread and scattered source of pollution, “nonpoint source pollution”, is threatening our ecosystems. 

Dissolved pollutants can reach our groundwater through a process called leaching. Our sandy soils in this area are certainly prone to leaching and possibly runoff during the upcoming rainy season.  A properly landscaped yard with good mulching and a healthy lawn can absorb stormwater runoff and protect Florida’s natural waters.  Runoff that is not absorbed often contains nitrogen and phosphorus from fertilizers that fuel algal blooms in our streams and lakes.  These blooms smother natural vegetation, depleting oxygen, which can kill fish.  More alarming is that harmful substances, such as household pesticides and fertilizers, may leach into our water supply, which can harm people and aquatic life. 

One of the basic concepts of a Florida-Friendly yard is that rain that falls in your yard should soak into your yard.  If your roof has rain gutters, aim the downspouts at a porous surface so water can soak into the soil and not run down the street or pool next to buildings.  You may wish to add functional earth shaping into your landscape:  swales and berms can help divert runoff that would otherwise rush from your yard.  If you have a waterfront property adding a maintenance-free zone of native wetland plants to a berm or swale will make your yard more waterfront-friendly. 

Rain barrels or cisterns may be used to capture rainwater.  The Highlands County Master Gardeners have rain barrels available for a small donation.  They also have information available on how to build your own rain barrel.  Barrels are great for hand watering, and they are not mosquito breeding grounds if the downspout fits tightly and openings are screened.  Cisterns that store a larger supply of rainwater may be used for non-potable uses but they require more engineering. 

Whenever possible use porous materials such as mulch, gravel, brick and pervious concrete for walkways, driveways or patios.  They allow rainwater to seep into the ground, helping to filter pollutants and reducing the amount of runoff from your yard. 

Finally, use pesticides and fertilizers wisely so they are retained in the yard and do not run off or are leached into the ground water.

If you are interested in having a Florida Friendly Yard please contact Ed Ayen at the Highlands County Extension Service office. Phone: (863)402-6540 or email: edayen@ufl.edu . His office location is 4509 George Blvd. in  Sebring, FL 33875-5837.

The Florida Yards and Neighborhoods program is being implemented through your local county extension service in Highlands, Okeechobee and Glades County and is partially funded from Clean Water Act Section 319 funding from the U. S. EPA through the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. 

More information is available on  the Okeechobee web page,  http://okeechobee.ifas.ufl.edu.  If you need additional information on Florida Friendly Yards, please email us at okeechobee@ifas.ufl.edu or call us at 863-763-6469.  Local residents can stop by our office at 458 Hwy 98 North in Okeechobee, and visit our Okeechobee County Master Gardeners from 1 to 5 PM on Tuesday afternoons.  

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References

Anonymous. Rain Barrel Workshop, April 7, 2006. Sebring: Highlands SWCD.  http://www.highlandsswcd.org/everything/current%20events/rain_barrel_workshop.htm 

Bailey, Jackie.  "Highlands SWCD Focus on Education, Outreach."  In:  News & Views. League City, TX: National Association of Conservation Districts, May 2006,  p.7.

Knox, Gary,  et al.  Yard Certification Checklist.  Gainesville: UF/IFAS Extension Service, (1995). http://hort.ifas.ufl.edu/fyn/certification.pdf 

Lofland, Billie,  et al.  Florida Yardstick Workbook. Gainesville: UF/IFAS Extension Service, (1999). http://hort.ifas.ufl.edu/fyn/Florida-Yardstick-Workbook.htm

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