JUNE. Balloons may be pretty, but releasing them can cause both economic and ecological damage.

Transcription

1 PRE-SORTED STANDARD U.S. Postage Featured this month Winter Park Waterways Illinois pondweed (Potamogeton illinoensis) LAKES DIVISION 401 S. Park Ave. Winter Park, FL established exotic fish & wildlife species 1,800 established exotic plant species $426 million spent controlling exotics on public lands & waters in the past 20 years You can help stem the tide by keeping your yard free of the worst offenders. Plant only native species or those listed as Florida Friendly by the Florida Yards Program at floridayards.org. Fence lines, flower beds and hedgerows are some of the areas where these opportunistic plants often get started. They blend in with the other foliage and by the time they re noticed, they are too big to easily pull. If you are a gardener, familiarize yourself with these plants that are particularly troublesome in central Florida. Skunk vine (Paederia foetida) Brazilian pepper (Schinus terebinthifolius) Ear Tree (Enterolobium cyclocarpum) Paperbark tree (Melaleuca spp.) Lake-related inquiries Non-stormwater discharges or Stormwater/erosion inquiries Nuisance Alligator Hotline (Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission) Department of Environmental Protection Division of Law Enforcement (Report environmental crimes such as unlawful disposal of hazardous waste.) 877-2SAVE-FL #DEP wireless phone Lake Bell Stats > size : 35 acres drainage basin : undetermined OHW elevation : 89.4 feet NGVD actually prohibits the outdoor release of balloons, in accordance with Florida Statute and is punishable by a fine of $250. average depth : 12 feet (approx.) Water quality > stormwater runoff : biggest factor affecting water quality Brazilian pepper growing along a fence line. Camphor tree (Cinnamomum camphora) Golden rain tree (Koelreuteria paniculata) Chinaberry (Melia azedarach) Chinese tallow (Triadica sebifera) General As the saying goes, what goes up, must come down, and this is particularly true for balloons released into the environment and given out at public events All balloons return to earth as litter, harming wildlife, people, the environment, and even our infrastructure. Balloons can travel thousands of miles and leave a wake of death and destruction in their path. An estimated 30,000 balloons per day are found worldwide in the environment as litter. The Marine Conservation Society has reported a recent 260 percent increase in balloon pollution in Atlantic coastal waters alone. Florida law > water clarity : decline in water clarity in late 1990s; clarity has fluctuated up and down Balloons may be pretty, but releasing them can cause both economic and ecological damage. Animals are attracted to the bright colors found on balloons, and they often mistake the balloons as a potential food source. Once ingested, the balloons block the digestive system and can lead to starvation and death. In particular, sea turtles are extremely vulnerable as they mistake floating balloon debris for jellyfish, one of their favorite foods. In addition to being a digestive hazard, many animals die from entanglement in the ribbon or string that is attached to balloons. The strings are often found twisted around the feet and beaks of birds, particularly water birds Balloons also pose a safety threat by causing power outages and the potential for fires. Mylar and foil balloons can spark easily, which can lead to a brush or forest fire. When balloons clog drains and drainage pipes, flooding can result. Despite false advertising claims of being biodegradable, there are no balloons that are manufactured as such. Balloons take decades to break down and release harmful chemicals into the soil and water as they decompose. Another concern is the use of helium, which is a nonrenewable resource and we have only a finite amount of it left on earth. Since helium is needed for applications like magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), ventilators, as well as deep sea and space exploration, it is best to save this limited resource for the critical uses it serves. Artificial balloons are a great, reusable alternative for fun displays. While balloons may be an eyecatching and attractive way to advertise an event or business venture, they are unnecessary, wasteful, hazardous to our environment, and best if avoided. Instead, offer environmentallyfriendly alternatives like kites, pinwheels or bubbles to celebrate and recognize your event or special occasion. These alternatives protect our wildlife from harm and keep damaging pollutants out of our waterways. since 2004; trend analysis shows no statistically valid change in clarity for > water table lake : level dependent on ground water elevation from rainfall : no permanent surface inflows : high water elevation flows through ditch & culvert system into Lake Killarney, which is 82.8' or nearly six feet below Lake Bell : approx. 10 percent shared with Eatonville > management efforts : inlet baskets on all outfalls within city : exotic plant control with triploid grass carp low stocking rate to control hydrilla : additional ditch treatment systems budgeted for Fiscal Year dock owners These statistics show the scope of what Florida habitat and wildlife managers are facing: Printed on 100% recycled paper. featured Lake N ative aquatic plants like pondweed remove nutrients from the water column as well as provide habitat and food for a wide variety of fish and wildlife. Florida s subtropical climate provides a comfortable environment for a wide diversity of plants, but not all of that greenery in the yard is good. Peoples desire to have beautiful or unusual plants in their gardens and landscapes has led to the importation of many species that are not indigenous to our state. Most of these exotic (non-native) plants are well behaved and stay where they are planted providing color, hardy greenery and shade for our yards. A few species, however, have found Florida s environment too inviting and have escaped cultivation. These Camphor tree sprouting plants are labeled as invasive for their ability to spread into through an azalea hedge. existing natural ecosystems and establish sustained populations. Because many of these imports have no natural controls in Florida, they can rapidly displace native plants, even to the point of completely taking over large areas of natural habitat and forming dense monocultures (stands of a single plant species). If you use a landscaping service, give them the following list and ask them to keep your yard FLORIDA FRIEN DLY by not planting these species: JUNE JUST SAY NO to letting balloons go! Important NUMBERS exotic plant invasions Illinois pondweed is a native aquatic plant that is common to many of our lakes in Winter Park. It is heterophyllous, having both submerged leaves and floating leaves, and capable of thriving in both deep and shallow waters. Throughout the spring and summer, Illinois pondweed produces a 0.5-3" fruit/seed at the end of each stem that often sticks out above the water surface. The submerged leaves are blade-like, and most have a slight curl to the leaf edge or margin. Illinois pondweed serves as an excellent habitat for juvenile and adult fish. Because Illinois pondweed is so robust and can grow very quickly, it occasionally has to be managed with herbicide so as to provide recreational access and enjoyment of the lake. Many of our lakes are seeing a resurgence in Illinois pondweed in recent years, and this is due in part to the fact that we have had to use fewer herbicide treatments for managing hydrilla now that the sterile grass carp have been stocked in most lakes. PAID Orlando Permit No make sure your street number friendly please [street name is not required] is posted on reminder your dock AND visible from the water

2 PRE-SORTED STANDARD U.S. Postage Featured this month Winter Park Waterways Illinois pondweed (Potamogeton illinoensis) LAKES DIVISION 401 S. Park Ave. Winter Park, FL established exotic fish & wildlife species 1,800 established exotic plant species $426 million spent controlling exotics on public lands & waters in the past 20 years You can help stem the tide by keeping your yard free of the worst offenders. Plant only native species or those listed as Florida Friendly by the Florida Yards Program at floridayards.org. Fence lines, flower beds and hedgerows are some of the areas where these opportunistic plants often get started. They blend in with the other foliage and by the time they re noticed, they are too big to easily pull. If you are a gardener, familiarize yourself with these plants that are particularly troublesome in central Florida. Skunk vine (Paederia foetida) Brazilian pepper (Schinus terebinthifolius) Ear Tree (Enterolobium cyclocarpum) Paperbark tree (Melaleuca spp.) Lake-related inquiries Non-stormwater discharges or Stormwater/erosion inquiries Nuisance Alligator Hotline (Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission) Department of Environmental Protection Division of Law Enforcement (Report environmental crimes such as unlawful disposal of hazardous waste.) 877-2SAVE-FL #DEP wireless phone Lake Bell Stats > size : 35 acres drainage basin : undetermined OHW elevation : 89.4 feet NGVD actually prohibits the outdoor release of balloons, in accordance with Florida Statute and is punishable by a fine of $250. average depth : 12 feet (approx.) Water quality > stormwater runoff : biggest factor affecting water quality Brazilian pepper growing along a fence line. Camphor tree (Cinnamomum camphora) Golden rain tree (Koelreuteria paniculata) Chinaberry (Melia azedarach) Chinese tallow (Triadica sebifera) General As the saying goes, what goes up, must come down, and this is particularly true for balloons released into the environment and given out at public events All balloons return to earth as litter, harming wildlife, people, the environment, and even our infrastructure. Balloons can travel thousands of miles and leave a wake of death and destruction in their path. An estimated 30,000 balloons per day are found worldwide in the environment as litter. The Marine Conservation Society has reported a recent 260 percent increase in balloon pollution in Atlantic coastal waters alone. Florida law > water clarity : decline in water clarity in late 1990s; clarity has fluctuated up and down Balloons may be pretty, but releasing them can cause both economic and ecological damage. Animals are attracted to the bright colors found on balloons, and they often mistake the balloons as a potential food source. Once ingested, the balloons block the digestive system and can lead to starvation and death. In particular, sea turtles are extremely vulnerable as they mistake floating balloon debris for jellyfish, one of their favorite foods. In addition to being a digestive hazard, many animals die from entanglement in the ribbon or string that is attached to balloons. The strings are often found twisted around the feet and beaks of birds, particularly water birds Balloons also pose a safety threat by causing power outages and the potential for fires. Mylar and foil balloons can spark easily, which can lead to a brush or forest fire. When balloons clog drains and drainage pipes, flooding can result. Despite false advertising claims of being biodegradable, there are no balloons that are manufactured as such. Balloons take decades to break down and release harmful chemicals into the soil and water as they decompose. Another concern is the use of helium, which is a nonrenewable resource and we have only a finite amount of it left on earth. Since helium is needed for applications like magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), ventilators, as well as deep sea and space exploration, it is best to save this limited resource for the critical uses it serves. Artificial balloons are a great, reusable alternative for fun displays. While balloons may be an eyecatching and attractive way to advertise an event or business venture, they are unnecessary, wasteful, hazardous to our environment, and best if avoided. Instead, offer environmentallyfriendly alternatives like kites, pinwheels or bubbles to celebrate and recognize your event or special occasion. These alternatives protect our wildlife from harm and keep damaging pollutants out of our waterways. since 2004; trend analysis shows no statistically valid change in clarity for > water table lake : level dependent on ground water elevation from rainfall : no permanent surface inflows : high water elevation flows through ditch & culvert system into Lake Killarney, which is 82.8' or nearly six feet below Lake Bell : approx. 10 percent shared with Eatonville > management efforts : inlet baskets on all outfalls within city : exotic plant control with triploid grass carp low stocking rate to control hydrilla : additional ditch treatment systems budgeted for Fiscal Year dock owners These statistics show the scope of what Florida habitat and wildlife managers are facing: Printed on 100% recycled paper. featured Lake N ative aquatic plants like pondweed remove nutrients from the water column as well as provide habitat and food for a wide variety of fish and wildlife. Florida s subtropical climate provides a comfortable environment for a wide diversity of plants, but not all of that greenery in the yard is good. Peoples desire to have beautiful or unusual plants in their gardens and landscapes has led to the importation of many species that are not indigenous to our state. Most of these exotic (non-native) plants are well behaved and stay where they are planted providing color, hardy greenery and shade for our yards. A few species, however, have found Florida s environment too inviting and have escaped cultivation. These Camphor tree sprouting plants are labeled as invasive for their ability to spread into through an azalea hedge. existing natural ecosystems and establish sustained populations. Because many of these imports have no natural controls in Florida, they can rapidly displace native plants, even to the point of completely taking over large areas of natural habitat and forming dense monocultures (stands of a single plant species). If you use a landscaping service, give them the following list and ask them to keep your yard FLORIDA FRIEN DLY by not planting these species: JUNE JUST SAY NO to letting balloons go! Important NUMBERS exotic plant invasions Illinois pondweed is a native aquatic plant that is common to many of our lakes in Winter Park. It is heterophyllous, having both submerged leaves and floating leaves, and capable of thriving in both deep and shallow waters. Throughout the spring and summer, Illinois pondweed produces a 0.5-3" fruit/seed at the end of each stem that often sticks out above the water surface. The submerged leaves are blade-like, and most have a slight curl to the leaf edge or margin. Illinois pondweed serves as an excellent habitat for juvenile and adult fish. Because Illinois pondweed is so robust and can grow very quickly, it occasionally has to be managed with herbicide so as to provide recreational access and enjoyment of the lake. Many of our lakes are seeing a resurgence in Illinois pondweed in recent years, and this is due in part to the fact that we have had to use fewer herbicide treatments for managing hydrilla now that the sterile grass carp have been stocked in most lakes. PAID Orlando Permit No make sure your street number friendly please [street name is not required] is posted on reminder your dock AND visible from the water

3 Lakes & Waterways Advisory Board Mission > to protect and improve the city s greatest natural resource its lakes and waterways, by fostering public stewardship, recommending protective measures, conducting long-range planning, and overseeing the implementation of improvement projects for lake and stormwater management. Member Term End Geoff Bedine interim chair 2017 James Barnes 2017 Amy Byrd 2018 Steve DiClemente 2019 Doug Marks 2019 Nora Miller 2017 John Minton 2019 Jack Goggin alternate 2019 City of Winter Park Public Works Department Troy Attaway Public Works Director tattaway@cityofwinterpark.org Don Marcotte Asst. Public Works Director/ City Engineer dmarcotte@cityofwinterpark.org Tim Egan Environmental Resource Manager tegan@cityofwinterpark.org Debbie Wilkerson Office Manager dwilkerson@cityofwinterpark.org Is your lawn a threat to our lakes? Phosphorous and nitrogen are the biggest threats to water quality in our lakes. Our lawns, due in large part to how we maintain them, are probably the largest source of these nutrients to our stormwater system. The city s stormwater management efforts and street sweeping activities help reduce pollutant loadings to our lakes, but can only stop a fraction of material carried by the stormwater. Even properly sized treatment systems rarely catch more than 80 percent of the target pollutants and many of our retrofitted treatment systems are undersized due to space limitations so their removal efficiency is even lower. Many people are now aware of the problems caused by nutrients in fertilizers, oak leaves and grass clippings when they are blown, or allowed to wash into our streets, but we still have a long way to go to eliminate these practices. There is also another, less obvious source of nutrient pollution from our lawns, soil erosion. Bare dirt is easily blown or washed away and in addition Erosion from lawns can con and sediment loads to ou to clogging drains and pipes, most soils have an organic replant bare spots promptly component that contains nitrogen and phosphorus. There are many possible conditions that can cause soil to wash into the street. The most obvious is leaving piles of dirt exposed during construction or landscaping projects. If your project will take longer than a day, make a plan to Identify & report harmful discharges Winter Park is required to maintain a permit to discharge stormwater under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES), which is part of the Clean Water Act. Under this law, any non-stormwater discharge to the stormwater management system could be considered an illicit discharge. One of the requirements of the city s NPDES permit is to develop a program to identify and eliminate illicit discharges. This process includes informing the public how to recognize potentially harmful discharges and providing a means for reporting them. Illicit discharges include hazardous materials like Turbid water discharged into the street makes its way to our lakes. fuel, solvents, pesticides and paint. Other, not so obvious discharges that could be harmful to our waterways include turbid water, chlorinated pool water, grass clippings/lawn debris, and soil erosion. When these materials are dumped into or allowed to run into the stormwater system, they find their way to our lakes. R c r d T d i c I f r o r s

4 keep disturbed soil in place until you finish. Bare spots in the lawn should be replanted promptly. Shady areas are often a problem as many varieties of grass do not grow well in low light. Talk to your nursery about using shade tolerant sod or groundcover that is suitable for your conditions. Other problem areas include unprotected slopes and unstabilized plant beds that are above the curb or sidewalk elevation. These areas may be fixed by re-grading the soil or using a geotextile fabric under the sod or groundcover to help hold the soil in place. If you are unsure of the proper technique for solving an erosion problem, consult a landscape professional. You can also contact the Lakes Division for general information and advice. tribute significant nutrient r lakes. Regrade and/or to keep soil in place. It is up to our residents to reduce the amount of pollutants that make it into the streets and stormwater system. Use the tips to the right to make your lawn lake-friendly. If you use a lawn care service, show them these tips and demand that they follow lake friendly practices. Many of them already do, but it is up to you to make sure your lawn is serviced by one of the good guys. Residential car washing is exempt from the illicit discharge rule, but cars should be pulled onto the lawn, if possible, before washing to reduce the discharge of dirty, soapy water. Other non-polluting discharges may be allowed with prior approval from the City Engineer. These may include the temporary discharge of clean ground water, de-chlorinated pool water or untreated air conditioner condensate. It is important to have your discharge plan approved ahead of time to avoid causing unintended problems. If you see what you believe to be an illicit discharge, please use the following guidelines to report it:» Spills or dumping of potentially hazardous materials like fuels, solvents or unknown chemicals should be reported immediately by calling 911.» A suspected illicit discharge of a non-hazardous nature (water-based paints, dirty water, lawn debris, etc.) may be reported to Stormwater or dmarcotte@cityofwinterpark.org Lakes or tegan@cityofwinterpark.org Most cases are handled informally, with an emphasis on educating residents and contractors of the harm these discharges can cause to our lakes, and the value to the community of protecting these resources. Always keep in mind that whatever enters our stormwater system, can end up in our lakes. lake-friendly lawn care tips Fertilizer & pesticide applications > Use phosphorus-free fertilizer Turf grasses in central Florida rarely need additional phosphorus. General lawn applications should use only P free [middle number zero, e.g ] fertilizers. > Always follow label instructions Only use them when necessary, and sweep all excess product off of streets, sidewalks, driveways or other hard surfaces. > Before you fertilize Make sure you read and comply with Orange County s fertilizer ordinance. Leaf & grass clipping disposal > Use leaves and/or grass clippings as mulch where practical or compost them for nutrient rich topsoil. Bag any debris that you cannot reuse and put it out on yard trash pickup day. > Always be a good neighbor Blowing debris into someone else s yard or the street isn t nice and it puts our lakes at risk. > Before you stop Sweep any leaves that have accumulated along your curb the rain may come before the street sweeper Erosion & sediment control > Use shade-tolerant grass or groundcover under tree canopies. > Always replant bare spots and promptly fix areas that are eroding. > Before you start a construction or landscaping project make a plan for erosion and sediment control for both during the project and after it is completed.

5 Watershed cleanups are a success! For the past year, the City of Winter Park Lakes Division has partnered with the Keep Winter Park Beautiful & Sustainable Advisory Board (KWPB&S) to sponsor cleanups of our local watersheds. What exactly is a watershed? A watershed is defined as the area of land that drains into one particular lake or waterbody. Volunteers register online or onsite, and canvass the neighborhoods within the designated watershed, collecting litter and garbage that would otherwise end up washing into our lakes. Volunteers include residents, families, community and civic groups, kayak/paddleboarding folks, local divers, and school clubs. The chart below includes the data for the cleanups completed thus far: watershed size of lake size of watershed volunteers litter collected [acres] [acres] [pounds] Mizell Killarney 234 1, Baldwin Osceola Virginia Maitland 451 1, KWPB&S provides a hearty breakfast, water, litter grabbers, gloves, safety vests, garbage bags and a t-shirt for all volunteers. The Lakes Division assists with garbage collection and transport of divers who are working underwater. It s a great partnership, so be sure to join us for the next cleanup at Lake Berry, July 30, from 8 to 11 a.m. Volunteers will need to meet at Lake Baldwin Park located at 200 S. Lakemont Ave. for supplies. hazmat In order to help residents properly dispose of household hazardous waste, periodic drop-off events are held at the Public Works Compound located at 1409 Howell Branch Road. Please note that this drop-off is residential only ~ no contractors, please. To find out the date for the next disposal event as well as get a list of items accepted, please visit cityofwinterpark.org/sustainability under Solid Waste. What s wrong with white sand? There are a number of problems that can occur when the natural contour of the shoreline is altered with sand or other materials. Changing the grade of the shoreline without fully understanding the interactions of water and land in that specific location can lead to worsening erosion, unintentional filling within the lake and degradation of ecologically valuable habitat. To ensure the protection of property and the aquatic environment, city and state rules prohibit any shoreline regrading (digging, dredging or the addition of any material, including white sand) without a permit. Look for a detailed article on effective, lake-friendly ways to improve and protect your shoreline in the next issue of the Winter Park Waterways.

6 PRE-SORTED STANDARD U.S. Postage Featured this month Winter Park Waterways Illinois pondweed (Potamogeton illinoensis) LAKES DIVISION 401 S. Park Ave. Winter Park, FL established exotic fish & wildlife species 1,800 established exotic plant species $426 million spent controlling exotics on public lands & waters in the past 20 years You can help stem the tide by keeping your yard free of the worst offenders. Plant only native species or those listed as Florida Friendly by the Florida Yards Program at floridayards.org. Fence lines, flower beds and hedgerows are some of the areas where these opportunistic plants often get started. They blend in with the other foliage and by the time they re noticed, they are too big to easily pull. If you are a gardener, familiarize yourself with these plants that are particularly troublesome in central Florida. Skunk vine (Paederia foetida) Brazilian pepper (Schinus terebinthifolius) Ear Tree (Enterolobium cyclocarpum) Paperbark tree (Melaleuca spp.) Lake-related inquiries Non-stormwater discharges or Stormwater/erosion inquiries Nuisance Alligator Hotline (Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission) Department of Environmental Protection Division of Law Enforcement (Report environmental crimes such as unlawful disposal of hazardous waste.) 877-2SAVE-FL #DEP wireless phone Lake Bell Stats > size : 35 acres drainage basin : undetermined OHW elevation : 89.4 feet NGVD actually prohibits the outdoor release of balloons, in accordance with Florida Statute and is punishable by a fine of $250. average depth : 12 feet (approx.) Water quality > stormwater runoff : biggest factor affecting water quality Brazilian pepper growing along a fence line. Camphor tree (Cinnamomum camphora) Golden rain tree (Koelreuteria paniculata) Chinaberry (Melia azedarach) Chinese tallow (Triadica sebifera) General As the saying goes, what goes up, must come down, and this is particularly true for balloons released into the environment and given out at public events All balloons return to earth as litter, harming wildlife, people, the environment, and even our infrastructure. Balloons can travel thousands of miles and leave a wake of death and destruction in their path. An estimated 30,000 balloons per day are found worldwide in the environment as litter. The Marine Conservation Society has reported a recent 260 percent increase in balloon pollution in Atlantic coastal waters alone. Florida law > water clarity : decline in water clarity in late 1990s; clarity has fluctuated up and down Balloons may be pretty, but releasing them can cause both economic and ecological damage. Animals are attracted to the bright colors found on balloons, and they often mistake the balloons as a potential food source. Once ingested, the balloons block the digestive system and can lead to starvation and death. In particular, sea turtles are extremely vulnerable as they mistake floating balloon debris for jellyfish, one of their favorite foods. In addition to being a digestive hazard, many animals die from entanglement in the ribbon or string that is attached to balloons. The strings are often found twisted around the feet and beaks of birds, particularly water birds Balloons also pose a safety threat by causing power outages and the potential for fires. Mylar and foil balloons can spark easily, which can lead to a brush or forest fire. When balloons clog drains and drainage pipes, flooding can result. Despite false advertising claims of being biodegradable, there are no balloons that are manufactured as such. Balloons take decades to break down and release harmful chemicals into the soil and water as they decompose. Another concern is the use of helium, which is a nonrenewable resource and we have only a finite amount of it left on earth. Since helium is needed for applications like magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), ventilators, as well as deep sea and space exploration, it is best to save this limited resource for the critical uses it serves. Artificial balloons are a great, reusable alternative for fun displays. While balloons may be an eyecatching and attractive way to advertise an event or business venture, they are unnecessary, wasteful, hazardous to our environment, and best if avoided. Instead, offer environmentallyfriendly alternatives like kites, pinwheels or bubbles to celebrate and recognize your event or special occasion. These alternatives protect our wildlife from harm and keep damaging pollutants out of our waterways. since 2004; trend analysis shows no statistically valid change in clarity for > water table lake : level dependent on ground water elevation from rainfall : no permanent surface inflows : high water elevation flows through ditch & culvert system into Lake Killarney, which is 82.8' or nearly six feet below Lake Bell : approx. 10 percent shared with Eatonville > management efforts : inlet baskets on all outfalls within city : exotic plant control with triploid grass carp low stocking rate to control hydrilla : additional ditch treatment systems budgeted for Fiscal Year dock owners These statistics show the scope of what Florida habitat and wildlife managers are facing: Printed on 100% recycled paper. featured Lake N ative aquatic plants like pondweed remove nutrients from the water column as well as provide habitat and food for a wide variety of fish and wildlife. Florida s subtropical climate provides a comfortable environment for a wide diversity of plants, but not all of that greenery in the yard is good. Peoples desire to have beautiful or unusual plants in their gardens and landscapes has led to the importation of many species that are not indigenous to our state. Most of these exotic (non-native) plants are well behaved and stay where they are planted providing color, hardy greenery and shade for our yards. A few species, however, have found Florida s environment too inviting and have escaped cultivation. These Camphor tree sprouting plants are labeled as invasive for their ability to spread into through an azalea hedge. existing natural ecosystems and establish sustained populations. Because many of these imports have no natural controls in Florida, they can rapidly displace native plants, even to the point of completely taking over large areas of natural habitat and forming dense monocultures (stands of a single plant species). If you use a landscaping service, give them the following list and ask them to keep your yard FLORIDA FRIEN DLY by not planting these species: JUNE JUST SAY NO to letting balloons go! Important NUMBERS exotic plant invasions Illinois pondweed is a native aquatic plant that is common to many of our lakes in Winter Park. It is heterophyllous, having both submerged leaves and floating leaves, and capable of thriving in both deep and shallow waters. Throughout the spring and summer, Illinois pondweed produces a 0.5-3" fruit/seed at the end of each stem that often sticks out above the water surface. The submerged leaves are blade-like, and most have a slight curl to the leaf edge or margin. Illinois pondweed serves as an excellent habitat for juvenile and adult fish. Because Illinois pondweed is so robust and can grow very quickly, it occasionally has to be managed with herbicide so as to provide recreational access and enjoyment of the lake. Many of our lakes are seeing a resurgence in Illinois pondweed in recent years, and this is due in part to the fact that we have had to use fewer herbicide treatments for managing hydrilla now that the sterile grass carp have been stocked in most lakes. PAID Orlando Permit No make sure your street number friendly please [street name is not required] is posted on reminder your dock AND visible from the water