Healthy Land Equals Healthy Water

Southwest Florida Water Management District

Balancing Water Needs … Protecting Water Resources

For grades 6–8

Directions: Circle True or False for each sentence.

True False 1. Ahabitatistheplacewhereananimalorplantlives.

True False 2. Athreatenedspeciesisaplantoranimalthatisnotlikely tobecomeextinct.

True False 3. Estuariesaresomeofthemostproductivehabitatsonearth.

True False 4. Lakesarelargebodiesofsaltwaterthatarenaturalorconstructed.

True False 5. Springsoccurwheregroundwatercomestothesurfaceoftheearth.

True False 6. Floridahasahighlevelofbiodiversity.

True False 7. Wetlandshelpfilteroutpollutants.

True False 8. TheSouthwestFloridaWaterManagementDistrict’sGreenSwamp WildernessPreserveisnotopentothepublic.

True False 9. PurchasinglandsisonewaytheSouthwestFloridaWater ManagementDistrictprotectswaterresources.

True False 10. Controlledburningisusedtoreduceanimalpopulations.

Page 1

Unit1

Unit2

Unit3

Unit4

Unit5

Unit6

Contents

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Page 4

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The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) does not discriminate on the basis of disability. This nondiscrimination policy involves every aspect of the District’s functions, including access to and participation in the District’s programs and activities. Anyone requiring reasonable accommodation as provided for in the Americans with Disabilities Act should contact the District’s Human Resources Bureau Chief, 2379 Broad St., Brooksville, FL 34604-6899; telephone (352) 796-7211 or 1-800-423-1476 (FL only), ext. 4702; TDD 1-800-231-6103 (FL only); or email ADACoordinator@WaterMatters.org.

Inordertohaveasafeandadequatesupplyofwaternowandinthefuture,wemustteachourchildrentoberesponsibleusersofFlorida’swaterresources. Thisbookletisdedicatedtohabitatsandlandresources.Protectinglandresourcesisaneffectivetoolinwatermanagementbecauseithelpsmaintainnaturalpatternsofwaterstorageandmovement.Naturalareasareimportantforfloodprotection,highwaterqualityandrechargeofourundergroundaquifers. ThisHabitats — Healthy Land Equals Healthy Water bookletoutlinestherelationshipbetweeneffectivestewardshipofthelandandournaturalwaterresources.Ifyouwouldlikemoreinformationaboutwaterresources,contacttheCommunicationsSectionofthePublicAffairsBureauoftheSouthwestFloridaWaterManagementDistrictat1-800-423-1476,ext.4757,orvisitourwebsiteatWaterMatters.org.

YouthEducationSouthwestFloridaWaterManagementDistrict

Howmuchdoyouknowabouthabitats?Trythefollowingquiztotestyourhabitatknowledge.Thencontinuewiththebooklettolearnmoreaboutprotectingourlandresources.Goodluck!

Unit1

1.Anecosystemisalivingcommunityofplantsandanimalsandtheirrelationshipswiththeenvironmentsurroundingthem. Findexamplesofthingsinnewspapers,magazinesandontheInternetthatyouandyourfamilyneedtoexistinyour community.Forexample,youmightincludearticlesaboutagricultureandfoodproduction,waterresourcesorhousing.

2.Factorsthatdeterminewhereorganismsliveincludesunlight,temperature,foodsupplyandweather.Search newspapers,magazinesandtheInternetforarticles,photosoradvertisementsthatinfluenceyourownenvironment.

3.Florida’swaterhabitatsincludeoceans,lakes,wetlands,rivers,springsandestuaries.Findhabitat-relatedarticlesin newspapers,magazinesandontheInternetandbeginanotebook.Listthedifferentimpactstohabitatsandwater resources.

oucanprobablyrattleoffyourhomeaddressinfiveseconds.Butdoyouknowthe“address”ofthelivingthingsaroundyou?Plantsandanimalsalsohaveanaddress.It’scalledtheirhabitat.Ahabitat,likeyourownhome,isthespecificplacewhereliving organismsfindthethingstheyneedtosurvive,suchasfood,shelter,waterandspace.

Yourecosystem issimilartothetownorcitywhereyoulive.Anecosystemisalivingcommunityofplantsandanimalsandtheirrelationshipswiththeenvironmentaroundthem.Justasyoudependonfarms,groves,grocerystoresandotherbusinessestosupplythethingsyouneed,plantsandanimalsdependontheirenvironmenttosupplythethingstheyneed,suchaswaterandfood.

Onewaytomeettheseneedsistofindahomethatincludessunlight,food,waterandasuitableclimate.

Someanimalsmayhavedifferenthomesatdifferenttimesoftheyear,justlikesomeofusdowhenwegoonvacationorvisitrelatives.Butanimalsdon’tchangeaddressesforfun.Theymove,ormigrate,atdifferenttimesoftheyeartoensuretheirneedsarealwaysmet.Nomatterwheretheylive,animalsmustadapttotheirenvironments.

Youmayhaveadaptedtowhereyoulive.Mostoftheclothesinyourclosetareprobablydesignedforwarmweather,andthethingsyouliketodomaycenteraroundwarmweatherortheoutdoors.Otherlivingthingsalsoadapttotheenvironmentinwhichtheylive.How?Plantsandanimalshavecertainfeaturesthathelpthemgetthefoodandenergytheyneed,protectthemselves,andadapttochangesin

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theirenvironment.Forexample,fishhavefinstomovethroughwaterandgillstogetoxygenfromthewater.

Changestohabitatscanbenaturalorcausedbyhumans.Peoplesometimeschangethelandtomakeitusablefortheirneeds.Theygrowfood,buildhomesandbusinesses,ortakewaterfromtheground,lakesandriversfordrinkingandotherpurposes.Whenthesechangesoccur,plantsandanimalsmaylosetheirhabitatsandbeunabletosurvive.

Floridahasahighlevelofbiological diversityorbiodiversity.Thismeansthatourstatecontainsawidevarietyofplantsandanimals.TenpercentofFlorida’splantsandanimalscanonlybefoundinFlorida.SomeofthereasonsforFlorida’sdiversityare:

• Its location as a peninsula, which allows both plant and animal species to migrate here

• A wet environment • A long geologic past with natural features

ranging from 2,000 to 25 million years

ChangestonaturalhabitatsarecausingFloridatolosesomeplantandanimalspecies.Aspeciesisagroupofplantsoranimalsthataregeneticallysimilarandreproducewitheachother,likehumans. Bothnaturalandhumanchangestohabitatshavecreatedproblemsforsomespecies.Theymaynothaveenoughspaceorfoodtosurvive.Thesespeciesarelabeled“endangered,”“threatened”or“speciesofspecialconcern.”Anendangeredspeciesisaplantoranimalthatisindangerofbecomingextinctwithouthumanprotection.Athreatenedspeciesislikelytobecomeendangeredintheforeseeablefutureunlessconservationactionsaretaken.Aspecies of special concernisaspeciesthatdoesnotclearlyfitintotheendangeredorthreatenedcategories,yetwarrantsspecialattention.Oneoftheprimarycausesofextinctionishabitatloss,oralossof“homes.”

Florida black bear cub

loridahasfiveregionalagenciesresponsibleforprotectingwaterresources.Theseagenciesarecalledwatermanagementdistricts.TheSouthwestFloridaWaterManagementDistrict(SWFWMD)isresponsibleforanareathatincludespartorallofthefollowingcounties:

Charlotte,Citrus,DeSoto,Hardee,Hernando,Highlands,Hillsborough,Lake,Levy,Manatee,Marion,Pasco,Pinellas,Polk,SarasotaandSumter.

Thereare14majorrivers,1,800lakesthatare10acresorlargerandoveramillionacresofwetlandswithintheSWFWMD.SouthwestFloridaisshaped,definedand,inmanyways,dependentonwater.Thewaterhabitatsor“addresses”in

southwestFloridaincludeestuaries,lakes,wetlands,riversandsprings.

Undevelopedandagriculturallandareasprovidegroundwaterrechargebyabsorbingrainwater,allowingittoseepundergroundandreplenishtheaquifers.Thesearespongelikeundergroundlayersoflimestoneorrockthatcanholdandreleasewater.Oneofthemosteffectivewaystoprotectwaterresourcesistoprotectandproperlymanagethesetypesoflands.Theselandsstoreexcessrainwaterandfilteroutpollutants. ThefollowingarewaterhabitatsthatexistwithintheSWFWMD: Estuariesarebodiesofwateralongourcoaststhatareformedwhenfreshwaterfrom

riversandstreamsflowsintoandmixeswithsaltwaterfromtheocean.Inestuaries,thefreshriverwaterisblockedfromstreamingintotheopenoceanbyeithersurroundingmainland,peninsulas,barrierislandsorsurroundingsaltmarshes.Thismixingoffreshandsaltwatercreatesaspecialhabitat(orhome)thatbrimswithlifeofallkinds.Theestuarygathersandholdsanabundanceoflife-givingnutrientsfromthelandandtheocean,makingitoneofthemostproductivehabitatsonearth.Anestuaryproducesmorefoodperacrethantherichestfarmland.Estuariescomeinallshapesandsizesandgobymanydifferentnames,oftenknownasbays,lagoons,harbors,inletsorsounds.(Notallwaterbodiesbythosenamesareestuaries.Whatmakesanestuaryisthemixingoffreshandsaltwater.)SomefamiliarexamplesofestuariesincludeSanFranciscoBay,PugetSound,ChesapeakeBay,BostonHarborandTampaBay.ThelargestestuarywithintheSWFWMDisTampaBay,withawatershedthatcovers2,200squaremiles. Animportantfactorforahealthyestuaryistheamountoffreshwaterthatflowsintoit.Thisfreshwaterdeterminesthesalinity,oramountofsalt,intheestuary’swater.TheSWFWMDstudiesestuariestofindouthowmuchfreshwatertheyneedtosurvive.Ifwaterlevelsinlakesandriversdrop,lessfreshwaterflowsintoestuaries.Someanimalsandplantsaresensitivetoevensmallchanges. Estuariesarealsoaffectedwhenalotofpeopleliveincoastalareas.Throughbuilding,transportationandagriculturalneeds,estuariescanbedestroyed.Morethan13millionpeopleliveinFlorida’scoastalcounties.Asourpopulationgrows,itisimportantthatweprotectourestuariesforthebenefitofallwhoenjoyanddependonthem.

Species:FloridasandhillcraneDescription:Longlegged,longneckedgray-brownbirdwithredonthetopofitshead.Habitat:Openlands,marshylakemargins.Usuallynestsintheshallowwateroflakes,pondsandopenmarshes.Status:Threatened,butimprovingProblems:Lossofhabitat

Unit2

Species:ManateeDescription:Alargeaquaticmammal.Theaverageadultisabout10feetlongandweighsabout1,200pounds.Eatsseagrasses.A1,000poundmanateecouldeatfrom100to150poundsofseagrassperday.Becauseitisamammal,themanateemustsurfaceforairabouteverythreetofiveminutes.Habitat:Shallow,slow-movingrivers,estuaries,saltwaterbays,canalsandcoastalareas.Status:EndangeredProblems:Lossoffoodsourceandhumanrecreation.Seagrassesdeclinedbyabout80percentinTampaBaybutarenowincreasingduetotheeffortsofpubliclyfundedprograms.Boatpropellersareathreatwhenmanateessurfaceforair.AlmostallmanateesinFloridahavescarsfromcollisionswithboats.2

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Lakesareinlandbodiesoffreshwater,naturalorconstructed,usuallysurroundedbyland.Thereareapproximately1,800lakes10acresorlargerwithintheSWFWMD.PolkCountyhasthelargestnumberoflakeswithintheSWFWMD,rankingfourthinthestate.

Lakescanbeusedformanypurposes,suchasswimming,boatingandfishing.Manyplantsgrowunderwaterwiththehelpofsunlightthatshinesthroughthewater.Theseplantsarefoodformanyanimalsthatliveinthelake.Lakelevelsmaydropinsomeareaswhentoomuchwateristakenoutofourundergroundwatersupply.Thisaffectstheplantsandanimalsthatlivetherebecausetheymaynothaveenoughspaceorfoodavailabletothem.Lakesalsomaybeaffectedbystormwater runoff,whichisextrarainwaterthatdoesnotsoakintotheground.Stormwaterrunoffcancauseanincreaseinalgaeandthegrowthofbacteria.

Wetlandsarelandsthatarewetall,orpart,oftheyear.Theyliebetweendrylands,oruplands,andwateroraquaticsystems.Wetlandsareeitherfreshwaterorsaltwater.Freshwaterwetlandsincludecypressswamps,hydrichammocks,hardwoodswamps,marshesandwetprairies.Saltwaterwetlandsincludecoastalsaltwatermarshesandforestedwetlandsknownasmangroveswamps.

Eachkindofwetlandsupportsdifferentanimalsandplantsthathaveadaptedtolivinginorclosetowater.Swampsaredominatedbytrees,whilemarshesaredominatedbygrassesandplants.

Wetlandsfilteroutpollutantsorcontaminantsandstoreexcesswatertoprotectusfromfloods.Theyalsoprovidehomesforplantsandanimalsandrecreationalopportunities,andtheysupportthecommercialfishingindustrybyprovidingavaluablehabitatformanykindsoffish.Oneacreofwetlandcanhold300,000gallonsofwater!

Species:MangroveDescription:Atreewithrootsthatgrowinsaltwaterorbrackishwater.White,redorblackvarietiesprovideshelterandnestingareasforbirds,fishandotherlife.Filtersoutpollutantsbeforetheycanentercoastalwaters,protectscoastfromerosionandprovideshabitat.Leavesofmangrovesfallinginwaterprovidethebaseoftheestuarinefoodchain.Habitat:SaltwaterandbrackishwetlandsStatus:ProtectedProblems:Threatenedbyhumandevelopmentincoastalareas.

Peopledidnotalwaysunderstandthevalueofwetlandstoourwaterresourcesandtootherspecies.Wetlandsusedtobecalled“wastelands”andweredrainedtobuildhomesandbusinessesorconvertedtoagriculturalareas.Approximately50percentofFlorida’soriginalwetlandshavebeenaltered—about10millionacres.

Rivers arecreatedfromexcessrainwaterthatflowsofftheland.Wetlandsareoftenclosetoriverbanks.TheSWFWMDhas13majorriverswithinitsregionofresponsibility.

Springsoccurwheregroundwater,orwaterstoredinundergroundaquifers,comestothesurface.Oftentheyaretheheadwatersofariver—whereitstarts.Springsprovidewatertodownstreamriversandlakes.Iftoomuchundergroundwaterisremovedfromtheaquifer,thewateravailableinspringsisreduced,whichmayaffecthabitatsdownstream.

OneimportantspringgroupwithintheSWFWMDisHomosassa.HomosassaSpringsislocated75milesnorthofTampa.Thespringis45feetdeepandpumpsmillionsofgallonsofwaterevery hour!ThisprovidesvaluablefreshwatertomanyhabitatsdownstreamontheHomosassaRiver.

Species:AlligatorDescription: Reptilewithelongated,armored,lizardlikebodyandmuscularflattail.Averageadultsizerangesfrom8.2feetto11.2feetandcanreachaweightofmorethanhalfaton.Incaptivity,alligatorscanlivetobe50yearsold,butinthewildtheyusuallylivetobe30to35yearsold.Habitat:Largeshallowlakes,marshes,ponds,swamps,rivers,creeksandcanalsinfreshandbrackishwaterareas.Status:ListedbystateasaspeciesofspecialconcernandbythefederalgovernmentasthreatenedduetothesimilarityinappearancetotheendangeredAmericancrocodile.Problems:Thealligatorwashuntedforitsskinuntilitwasgivenprotectionasanendangeredspecies.Althoughitisstillprotectedandconsideredathreatenedspecies,yearsofprotectionhavehelpedalligatorpopulations.

1.Writeaparagraphexplainingwhywetlandsaresuchavaluablenaturalresource.Searchnewspapers,magazines ortheInternetforanarticlementioninganotherkindofwaterhabitat.Readthearticleandexplaintotheclasswhy youthinkthishabitatisimportant.

2.Findanarticlethatdiscussesawaterorlandproblemfacingpeopleinyourcommunity.Whatistheproblemandwhy doesitexist?Whatpeopleororganizationsareinvolvedwiththeproblem?Whatisbeingdonetosolvetheproblem? Isthereanythingstandinginthewayofasolution?Writeaneditorialstatingyouropiniononthesubject.

3.LookforanarticlethatdiscussesanyofthewaterhabitatspresentinsouthwestFlorida.Isthereahabitatlikethatnear yourcommunity?Domembersofthecommunityprotectit?Isthereanythingyoucandotoimproveit?

ostofusliveinaneighborhoodorcommunitywithotherfamilies.Youseethematthestore,duringcommunityactivities,oryoumightseeyourneighborsatschool.This“connects”youtothemembersofyourcommunity.Inthesameway,youalsoareconnectedtonaturalsystems,suchastheanimalsorplantsthatexistaroundyou.

Ahabitatislikeapuzzle,madeupofmanydifferentpiecesthatdon’tmakeacompletepictureuntilallthepiecesareintherightplace.Whatarethepiecesinahabitat?Food,water,

shelterandspace.

Doyourememberwhatitfeltlikewhenyoulostapieceofapuzzle?Yourpuzzlejustdidn’tlookthesamewithapiecemissing,and

perhapsyoutookbettercareofyournextpuzzle.YourecognizedtheVALUEOFEVERYPUzzLEPIECE.Inthesameway,itisimportantthateachofusunderstandsthevalueofdifferentkindsofhabitatsandthesmallpuzzlepiecesthatcomposeahabitat,suchaswater,sothatwewillprotectthem.

1. Lookthroughthenewspaperforreportsaboutnaturaldisastersthatalteranaturalenvironment.Startwiththeweather page.Summarizehowpeopleandtheenvironmentwereaffectedbytheseextremeweatherconditions.

2.Ifyouwereascientistinchargeofrestoringhabitatformanatees,whatingredientsmightyouinclude?Rememberthe essentialcomponentsofahabitat:food,water,shelterandspace.Searchnewspapers,magazinesandtheInternetfor articlesandphotographsofmanateestogiveyouideas.

3.Searchnewspapers,magazinesandtheInternetforarticlesaboutdifferenttypesofpollutionorenvironmental problemsandarrangethemincategoriesinyournotebook.Somecategoriesmightbenoise,air,waterandsolidwaste. Howarethecategoriesconnectedtoeachother?Howmightonetypeofpollutionaffectmorethanonenaturalresource?

Habitats and EcosystemsRemembertheterm“ecosystem”fromUnit

1?Anecosystemcanbemadeupofavarietyofhabitats,andaspecies’habitatiswheretheylivewithintheirecosystem.Eachplantoranimalhasaspecificroletoplayintheecosystem,itsecological niche.Thinkofa“niche”asacharacteronaTVshow.Eachcharacterhashis/herownpersonalityandbehavesdifferently,right?

Theecologicalnicheofaspecies,therefore,describesitsbehaviorandincludessuchthingsasfoodrequirements,nestingsites,feedingmethodandotherphysical,chemicalorbiologicalconditionsthatthespeciesneedstosurviveintheecosystem.Forexample,theanhingaisawadingbirdwhoseecologicalnicheincludesitsfood(fish),itsfeedingmethodofswimmingunderwaterandspearingfish,anditsbehavior,suchasspreadingitswingsouttomaintainitsbodytemperature.Anhingasarefoundanywheretherearealligatorsbecausetheyusealligatorholestohuntforfish.

Speciesandtheirrolesinecosystemsshareimportantrelationshipsthatkeepallthepiecestogetherinthelargerecosystempuzzle.Theyareinterdependent. Allrelationshipsbetweenplantandanimalspeciesareinfluencedbythemovementandavailabilityofwater,makingwateroneofthetopfactorsinanecosystem’shealth.

Unit3

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anyofFlorida’sdiverseaquatichabitatsarethreatenedbynaturalandhumanactivities.Naturalimpactstohabitatsincludehurricanes—stormswithwindsofatleast74milesperhourthatnaturallyformoveroceanwaters.Hurricanewindscandamageoraltercoastalhabitatsofpeopleandotherspecies.

Rapidpopulationgrowthisonehumanimpact.Therearemorethan4.7millionpeoplelivingwithintheSouthwestFloridaWaterManagementDistrict(SWFWMD).Also,morethan80millionpeoplevisitFloridaeachyear.Manyplantandanimalspecieshavedrasticallydeclinedorvanishedandwaterresourceshavebeenimpactedbecauseoftheincreasedneedforwaterandlivingspaceforpeople.

Florida’swaterhabitatshavebeenaltered,degradedandbrokenintosmallerpieces.Perhapsthemostsignificantthreatscomefromhabitatalterationanddegradation.Changes,suchasdrainingwetlandsforhumanuse,alterthenaturalflowofwaterandmaylowerundergroundwaterlevels.

Anotheralterationistheinvasionofnon-nativespecies.Exoticspeciesdonotoccurnaturallyinanarea.Theyarebroughtintoanewareabyaccidentorto“improve”upontheexistingsystem.

AnexampleofanexoticspeciesthathasdonedamageinFloridaismelaleuca.ThemelaleucatreewasbroughtfromAustraliatoFloridaintheearly1900s.Itwasbelieveditwoulddryupwetlands.(Remember,atthattime,peopledidnotunderstandthevalueofwetlands.)Thetreegrowsandreproducesrapidly,crowdingoutnaturalFloridatreesandplants.Melaleucaalsosoaksupalotofwater,limitingthewateravailabletonativetreesandplants.

MelaleucaisaproblemonsomeoftheSWFWMDlandsinsoutherncounties.TheSWFWMDaddressestheproblembyuprootingsmalltreesandeitherchoppingdownorcuttingopenlargertrees,whicharethentreatedwithasmallamountofherbicide.Theherbicideisapplieddirectlytothemelaleucatreeso

thatitwillnotcauseharmtosurroundingplantsandanimals.

Citrustreesareanexampleofanoninvasive,nonnativespeciesthathasbeeneconomicallybeneficialtosouthwestFlorida.CitrustreeswereintroducedtoFloridahundredsofyearsagobySpanishexplorers.Today,Floridaproducesmorethan70percentoftheUnitedStatessupplyofcitrus.FloridaissecondonlytoBrazilinglobalorangejuiceproduction.

Thedegradation,ordecline,ofhabitatsisaresultofseveralcausesthatmayincludeoverpumpingofundergroundwater.Overusinggroundwatersuppliesmaydegradesurroundingareas,causingwetlandstodryupandloweringlakelevels.Anothercauseofdegradationispollutionfromstormwaterrunoffandindustrialdischarges.

AsignificantamountofFlorida’snativehabitatshavebeenchangedforhumanuses,suchasgrowingfoodandprovidinghousingforallthestate’sresidents.About50percentofthestate’swetlandshavebeenaltered.

Thebreakingup,orfragmenting,ofhabitatsalsoisamajorthreattoFlorida’snaturalhabitats.Habitatshavebeenseparatedintosmallerpiecesbyroads,fields,housesandotherdevelopment.Therearelowernumbersofsomespecies,suchastheblackbear,becausetheydon’thaveenoughlandareatosurviveandreproduce,orarekilledonroadwayswhentheyattempttotraveltootherareas.

Today,peoplerecognizethevalueofwetlandsandotherlandstowaterresourcesandwildlife.Scientists,governmentaldecision-makers,conservationists,educators,farmers,businesspeopleandindividualslikeyouareworkingtogethertokeepthehabitatpuzzleintact.

New growth and development leads to habitat and water supply losses and pollution.

Unit4

Melaleuca being harvested

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About the Green SwampTheSouthwestFlorida

WaterManagementDistrict(SWFWMD)hasmorethan142,000acresoflandunderprotectionwithintheGreenSwampbecauseofitsregionalsignificancetowaterresources.TheGreenSwampisasignificantwetlandareathatcovers870squaremiles.Fourmajorrivers,theHillsborough,Peace,WithlacoocheeandOcklawaha,originateintheGreenSwamp.Itisanimportantareaforgroundwaterrechargebecausetheaquifersareveryclosetothesurfacethere.TheGreenSwampalsoprovidesfloodprotectionandnaturaltreatmentofrunoffwater.

ForinformationaboutrecreationalopportunitiesordirectionstotheSWFWMD’sGreenSwampWildernessPreserve,visitouronlineorderingformatWaterMatters.org/publications forafree“RecreationGuidetoSouthwestFloridaWaterManagementDistrictLands.”

heGreenSwampisauniqueenvironmentaltreasure.Itis870

squaremilesofnaturalbeautylocatedinthecenterofFlorida.Acombinationofwetlandsandflatlands,itsitshigherthansurroundinglands—kindoflikethe“queenorkingofthemountain.”ButtheGreenSwampneedsalittlehelptoprotectitself,justlikeakingorqueencan’trunanentirekingdomalone.

That’swhytheSouthwestFloridaWaterManagementDistrict(SWFWMD)hasmorethan142,000acresoftheGreenSwampunderprotection,namedtheGreenSwampWildernessPreserve,forthepublic’sbenefit.TheentireGreenSwampisgenerallylocatedinsouthernSumterandLakecounties,easternHernandoandPascocountiesandnorthernPolkCounty(seeinsetmapabove).

YouandI—andallsortsofotherlivingthings—needtheGreenSwamp.Asyoureadearlierinthisbooklet,oneacreofwetlandscanholdabout300,000gallonsofwater.So,oneofthemainreasonsthislandissovaluableisitsnaturalabilitytohelpwithfloodprotectionifthereismajorrainfallorstorms.

TheGreenSwampdiverts“extra”waterthroughtheWithlacoocheeandHillsboroughrivers.TheWithlacoocheeRiverreceivesmostofthewaterthatleavestheGreenSwamp.TheGreenSwampisimportanttothehealthofecosystemsandhabitatsalongtheserivers.

OthervaluablelandcoveriswithintheGreenSwamp.Therearelargeforestedareasthatprovidehabitattospeciessuchasthegophertortoise.Oneofthetortoise’sfavoritehabitatsispineflatwoods.

DoyouknowthebestpartabouttheSWFWMD’sGreenSwampWildernessPreserve?Youcangotheretohavefun.Mostofthepreserveisopentothepublicforhiking,bicycling,camping,canoeingandfishing.Remember,whenyouvisit,takecareofthatlandsoitcancontinuetoprovideimportanthomesforanimalsandplantsandcontinuetoprotectourwaterresources.

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•Medium-sizedturtlewithabroad,muscularheadandarelativelyshorttail.Adultaverages9to11inchesinlengthandweighs8to10pounds.

•DistinguishedfromotherFloridaturtlesbyitslackofwebbedfeet.

•Hatchingofeggstakesplaceinlatesummer.Hatchlingsareyellow-orangeandemergefromtheireggswithashelllengthof1.5to2inches.

•Agophertortoise’sliferevolvesarounditsburrow,whichcanbeupto40feetinlengthand18feetindepth.Thetortoisedigsitsburrowwithitsshovellikefrontlegs.

•Morethan360speciesofanimalshavebeenfoundusinggophertortoiseburrowsinvariousways.Theseincludeburrowingowls,raccoons,opossums,gopherfrogs,spiders,insects,cottonrats,indigosnakes,coachwhipsandrattlesnakes.Severalspeciesthatutilizetheburrowshaveprotectedspeciesdesignations.

•Livefrom40to60yearsandpossiblyaslongas150+years.Nopreciseestimateisavailableduetothedifficultyofaccuratelyagingtortoisesoncetheyhavepassed30–40yearsofage.

•Generallydescribedasaherbivore(ananimalthatfeedschieflyonplants),thebulkoftheirdietconsistsofbroad-leavedgrasses,wiregrassandwildlegumes.Smallamountsofanimalmatter(insectsandcarrion),wildfruitsandberriesarealsoconsumedoccasionally.Theyactivelyfeedduringthewarmerpartsoftheday.

•Apparentlyhaveasocialstructureandcommunicatewitheachotherusingheadbobs,occasionalsoundsandevenramming.

•Gophertortoisenumbersarebeingreducedconsiderablythroughouttheirrangeduetoroadkills,diseaseandlanddevelopment.Somearekilledforfood,whileothersarekilledwhentheirburrowsarefilledwithgasoline,apracticeusedtodriverattlesnakesfromtheirtortoise-burrowshelter.Upperrespiratorytractdiseaseisthreateninggophertortoisestoo.Thisdiseaseisspreadwhenthetortoisesarerelocatedtomakewayfordevelopment.

•Classifiedasa“threatened”speciesinFlorida.

•GophertortoisepopulationsarescatteredthroughoutthecoastalplainofthesoutheasternUnitedStates,withmostbeingfoundinnorth-centralFloridaandsouthernGeorgia.

What is a gopher tortoise’s habitat?Threeconditionsareneededforhealthytortoisepopulations:well-drainedsandysoilsfordiggingburrows;sufficientlow-plantgrowthforfood;andopen,sunnyareasfornesting.Habitatsmayincludelongleafpine-turkeyoaksandhillsandclayhills,liveoakandredoakhammocks,sandpinescrubandpineflatwoods.

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Government ProtectionIn1970,alawwaspassedintheUnited

StatescalledtheNationalEnvironmentalPolicyAct(NEPA).Thisactestablishedtherightofresidentsinthiscountrytoahealthyenvironmentandthegovernment’sresponsibilitytoprotecttheenvironment.Becauseofthislawandotherslikeit,therearemanygovernmentorganizationsworkinghardtoprotectnaturalresources.Theseincludefederal,state,regionalandlocalagencies.

InFlorida,theDepartmentofEnvironmentalProtection(DEP)workswithagenciesthroughoutthestatetoprotecthabitats.TheSouthwestFloridaWaterManagementDistrict(SWFWMD)isresponsibleforprotectingwaterresourcesandtheirassociatedhabitatsinyourarea.Avarietyoftechniquesareusedtoreachthisgoal.Oneofthesetechniquesislandacquisition,orthepurchaseoflands.

TheSWFWMDpurchaseslandforthepurposesoffloodprotection,waterqualityprotectionandimprovement,watersupply,protectionofrechargeareas,protectionofwetlandsystems(suchasheadwaterswamps

1. Searchnewspapers,magazinesandtheInternetforanarticleabouthowahumanchangedorplanstochangeanarea.Doyouthinktherewillbeanyimpactstowaterresourcesortoplantsandanimals?Whatmighttheybe?Isthereawaytolessenthenegativeimpacts?Aretherepositiveresultsofthechange?Whatarethey?Discusswithyourclasswhetherthepositiveoutcomesoutweighthenegativeimpactsandwhy.

2. Humanschangehabitatstomakeroomforhousingandprovidefoodforthenation’speople.Canyouthinkofwaysthathumansmightbeabletochangelandareaswhileprotectingthehabitatforwaterresources,plantsandanimals?Discussthisideawithclassmates.Combineyourideasintoaclassroomposter.

3. Searchnewspapers,magazinesandtheInternetforarticlesaboutFlorida’sincreasingpopulation.Whyisthispopulationgoodandwhymightitbebad?Summarizeyourthoughts.

Aconceptmapallowsyoutodiagraminformation.Placetheword“wetlands”inthecircleatright.Thenaddeightfactsyoulearnedaboutwetlandstothelinessurroundingthecircle.Compareyourconceptmapwithothers.

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anypeopleandorganizationsareconcernedaboutthelossofaquatichabitatsandareworkingtoprotectthem.Theseincludestate,localandregionalgovernmentagencies,privateorganizations,businesses,citizenandagriculturalgroupsandindividuals.

Unit5

SWFW

MD

Prescribed burn

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Dav

idHeller

andfloodplains),andrestorationandmanagementofuplands.Othergovernmentagenciesalsopurchaselandsforthebenefitofournaturalresources.

Effectivemanagementoftheselandsisnecessaryforprotectingnaturalecosystems.Landsalsomaybechangedbacktotheirnaturalstateorimprovedsothatnaturalfunctionssuchaswaterflowareworking.

TheSWFWMDrestoreslandsthroughitsSurfaceWaterImprovementandManagementProgram—astateinitiativestartedin1987toimprovethequalityofsurfacewaterbodies—andthroughitsLandResourcesDepartment.Bothdepartmentsuserestorationactivities,suchaschangesinthelanddesignforbetterwaterflow,reintroductionofnativeplantsandanimalspeciesandremovalofexoticspecies.

Besidesrestoration,agenciescarryoutimportantmanagementactivities,suchasprescribedfire.Someplantandanimalcommunitiesdependonfireforthehealthoftheirecosystem.Firecleansawayexcessivebrush,recyclesnutrientstothesoilandstimulatessomeplantstoproducefreshgrowthforwildlifefood.Natural,lightning-causedfirescanburnuntilrainputsthemoutortheyreachanaturalbarrierlikeariver.Becauseofpopulationgrowthanddevelopment,humanshavehadtointervenetostopthesenaturalfires.So,theSWFWMDprescribesfireforcertainsectionsoflandtomaintaingoodwildlifehabitatandtopreventwildfiresfromdestroyinghomes.TheSWFWMDisexploringotherwaysofprotectingthelandtoo.LandprotectionoptionsmightinvolvetheSWFWMDbuyingcertainrightstoprivateland,calledaconservation easement.Thisallowsalandownertoholdtitletolandswhilerestrictingtheuseoftheland,suchasprohibitingdevelopment.Landownersmayalsodonatetheirland.Often,conservationorganizations,suchasTheNatureConservancy,purchaselandsandworkwiththeSWFWMDtomaximizethewaterresourcebenefits.

Private Organizations and BusinessesBusinesses,citizengroups,other

organizationsandfarmershelpprotectourhabitatsinmanyways.Theymightpurchaselandsandkeeptheminanaturalstate,lookforwaystheirbusinessescanlimitimpactstotheenvironment,oreducateothersabouttheirlands.Forexample,farmersandranchersuseefficientwaterconservationsystemsto

savewater,andtheirundevelopedlandsallowrainwatertoseepdownandreplenishtheaquifers.

Privatelandownersareusuallygoodstewardsofthelandbecauseit’sintheirbesteconomicinterest.Farmersandranchersliketosaytheywerethefirstenvironmentalists.Andtheirhelpiscriticaltothesuccessofecosystem management,anapproachtosolvingenvironmentalproblems

Public ownership is one way to preserve and restore Florida’s remaining natural areas, while providing passive recreation for the public.

thatlooksathowtheentirenaturalsystemworks.Thisisimportantbecausetherearethousands

ofacresofcriticalhabitatthatarenotundergovernmentmanagement,andthere’snotenoughmoneytobuyormanagealltheimportantlands.TheSWFWMDencouragesprivatelandownerstopursuecooperativeeffortswiththegovernmenttoprotectcriticalhabitatsandtoestablishgreenwaycorridors(linearopenspacesconnectingrecreational,culturalandnaturalareas).Individuals

Perhapsoneofthemostimportantpartsofgoodhabitatmanagementistheinvolvementofindividualsinhabitatprotection.Manypeoplemaynotbeawareoftheimportanceofnaturalresourcestotheireverydayneeds.WaterisaresourcethatweneedEVERYDAYforourhealth,well-beingandforrecreation.Individualsneedtoknowaboutproblemswithhabitatssotheymaymakeeducatedchoiceseveryday.EVERYONEmustshareintheresponsibilityformanagingourecosystem.Thenextunitwilladdresssomethingcalled“stewardship.”Stewardshipcanbedefinedasasenseofownershipin,andresponsibilityfor,Florida’slandsandassociatednaturalresources.

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neofthemostimportantgoalsofFlorida’shabitatprotectioneffortsistoensureFloridianshaveasenseofsharedresponsibility,orstewardship, forournaturalresources.Whatdoesthismean?ItmeansthateachofusneedstoacceptourconnectiontoalargercommunityoflivingthingsthatmaketheirhomesinsouthwestFlorida.Weareinterdependentwiththenaturalworldaroundus.Eachofushasaresponsibilitytothe

environment.Wemustallshareinthecostsforhabitatandwaterresourcesprotection.Wemustworktoprotectournaturalresourcesforourlong-termhealthandsurvival.Helpingindividualstakeactionandmakewisechoices

1.JohnMuirworkedhardfortheprotectionoftheenvironment.HefoundedtheSierraClub,anationalconservationorganization.Findanarticlethatdemonstrateshisphilosophythateverythingintheworldisinterconnected.Howdoesonedecisionorchangeresultinotherchanges?

2.TheSouthwestFloridaWaterManagementDistrictwantsyou,yourfamilyandyourschooltobegoodmembersoftheenvironmentalcommunity.Brainstormwithyourclassandmakealistofideastohelppreservewaterhabitats.Makeaclassprojectoutofoneoftheideas.Writeusandletusknowwhatyoudid.

3.Makealistofideaswithyourfamilyofthingsyoucandoindoorsandoutdoorstoconservewaterresources andnaturalhabitats.Makeafamilyprojectoutofoneofyourideas—butdon’tforgettodosomethingevery daytohelpprotectyourwaterresources.

everydaywillpreventproblemsthatwouldotherwiserequiredifficultandcostlysolutions.Itismuchmorecomplicatedandexpensivetolookfornewwatersourcesthanitisforeachofustoprotectwateranduseitwiselyeveryday.Inordertobeagoodmemberofyour

community,youshouldbecomeinformed,getinvolvedandactresponsibly.Youcangainabetterunderstandingoftheenvironmentandenvironmentalissuesbyreadingthenewspaper,booksandmagazines;goingtonaturecenters;andvolunteeringtoworkwithlocalconservationandenvironmentalorganizations.Onceyouhavethisnewknowledge,youneedtouseit!Onthenextpagearesomehelpfulhabitat

hints.Sharethemwithyourfamily,friendsandneighborssothateachofyouwilllearnhowtobeagoodmemberofyourenvironmentalcommunity.

“When we try to pick out anything by itself, we find it hitched to everything else in the Universe.”— naturalist John Muir

Unit6

SierraClub

1.Manygovernmentagencies,privateorganizationsandbusinessesareworkinghardtoprotectaquatichabitats.Seehow manyofthesegroupsoragenciesyoucanfindinanewspaperormagazine.Whataretheydoingtoprotectwater resourcesandthestate’snaturalecosystems?

2. RestorationofFlorida’snaturalareasisimportanttoprotectwaterresources.Seeifyoucanfindanarticleabout somethingthatwasrestored.Whatwastheitem?Whyisitvaluableorworthrestoring?Isitessentialtohumanhealth? Whatmighthavehappenedifitwasnotrestored?

3.Oneofthemostimportantpartsofhabitatmanagementistheeverydayinvolvementofindividuals.Makealistofthe manydifferentusesofwater.Markthewaysyouusewater.Listwaysyoucanconserveandprotectwaterresourceswhen youareusingwaterindifferentways.Shareyourideaswithyourclass.

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Whatcanyoudotohelpprotecthabitats?Understandtheconnectionsbetweenyouandtheenvironmentandact!Trysomeofthehintslistedbelow.Habitatsneedusfortheirsurvivalandweneedthemtoprotectourfreshwaterresources.

Across clues: 1.Anendangeredmammalthatlivesinestuaries 2.Thishappenstosoilwhenithasnoplantsortreestoholdit 3.Typeoftreethatgrowsinsaltwaterwetlands 4.Aspeciesthatisdecreasingrapidlyandfacingextinction 5.Caringfortheenvironmentmeansmakinggood_________ 6.Borderbetweenfreshwaterandsaltwatersystems 7.Waterneedsnaturallandareasto_________intotheground 8.Abodyoffreshwater 9.Habitatsthatarenearorinwater 10.Landthatiswetallormostoftheyear

Down clues: 11.Anotherwordforananimal’shabitat 12.Anothernameforpollution 13.Atypeofwetlandwithgrasslikeplants 14.Whatpeopleusedtocallawetland 15.Anaturalresourceessentialtoalllivingorganisms 16.Watersoakingintothegroundwillhelp_________theaquifer 17.Alongperiodoflittleornorain 18.Wheregroundwatercomestothesurface 19.Aspecies’roleintheirecosystem

1. Keepitnatural!Ifyourfamilyownsalargepieceofland,askthemifyoucanleaveitnaturaltoprovidewildlifehabitatandgroundwaterrecharge.

2.Plantit!Usewater-conservingplantsoutsideyourhomethatprovidefoodandnestingspacefornativewildlife.

3. Ifit’sdead,leaveit!Deadordyingtreesprovidevaluablehabitattomanyanimals.

4. Protecttheshore!Ifyoulivenearawaterbody,leavetheshorelinenaturaltocontrolerosionanddecreasetheneedforchemicalsthatmayharmwaterqualityandtheresidentspecies.

5.Giveupsometime!Findoutaboutlocalparksorgroupsthatneedvolunteerstohelpprotectnaturallandsandwildlife.

6.Putitinthetrash!Don’tthrowgarbagewhereitdoesn’tbelong.Iteventuallygetsintowaterbodiesorattractswildlifetodangerousroads.

7.Conserveresources!Takingcaretousenaturalresources,suchaswater,responsiblyandcarefullywillprotectthemandimprovehabitats.

8.Shareit!Don’tkeepallyournewknowledgetoyourself—shareitwithyourfriends,familyandneighbors.

9. Makeapact!GettogetherwithyourfriendsandcommittodoingsomethingEVERYDAYtoprotectourwaterresources.

10.Protectnaturalareas!Takeonlypicturesandleaveonlyfootprintswhenyouvisitanaturalpark.

For additional reading materials, go to your local library or bookstore or call any

of the organizations from the resources list on the following page. You can also

order free publications from the Southwest Florida Water Management District

online at WaterMatters.org/publications/.

The Nature ConservancyFloridaFieldOffice222SouthWestmonteDrive,Suite300AltamonteSprings,FL32714(407)682-3664Website:nature.org

Sarasota Bay National Estuary Program111SouthOrangeAvenue,Suite200W.Sarasota,FL34236(941)955-8085Website:sarasotabay.org

Tampa Bay National Estuary Program1008thAvenueSoutheastMSI-1/NEPSt.Petersburg,FL33701(727)893-2765Website:tbep.org

Tampa Bay Watch3000PinellasBaywaySouthTierraVerde,FL33715(727)867-8166Website:tampabaywatch.org

ormoreinformationaboutlandandwaterresourcesprotection,contacttheCommunicationsSectionofthePublicAffairsBureauoftheSouthwestFloridaWaterManagementDistrictat1-800-423-1476(FLonly)or(352)796-7211,ext.4757,orvisitourwebsiteatWaterMatters.org,orcontactanyoftheagenciesororganizationslistedbelow.

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Charlotte Harbor National Estuary Program1926VictoriaAvenueFortMyers,FL33901-3414(239)338-2556Website:chnep.org

Florida Department of Environmental ProtectionTampaOffice13051NorthTelecomParkwayTempleTerrace,FL33637(813)632-7600Website:dep.state.fl.us/southwest

Florida Farm BureauPostOfficeBox147030Gainesville,FL32614-7030(352)378-8100Website:floridafarmbureau.org

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation CommissionSouthwestRegion3900DraneFieldRoadLakeland,FL33811-1299(863)648-3200Website:myfwc.com

Hillsborough County Extension5339SouthCountyRoad579Seffner,FL33584-3334(813)744-5519Website:hillsborough.extension.ufl.edu

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acquisition:gainingpossessionofsomething

aquifer: aspongelikeundergroundlayeroflimestoneorrocksthatcanholdandreleasewater

biodiversity:widevarietyofplantsandanimalswithinaspecificgeographicregion

carrion:deadanddecayingflesh

community:agroupofplantsandanimalslivingandinteractingwithoneanotherinaspecificregionunderrelativelysimilarenvironmentalconditions

conservation:carefuluseofaresource;limitedwaste

contaminants:impuritiesthatmakesomethingunusableorunhealthy

ecological niche:thespecificroleaplantoranimalplaysinitsecosystem

ecosystem:alivingcommunityofplantsandanimalsandtheirrelationshipwiththeenvironmentaroundthem

endangered species:plantoranimalspeciesthatisindangerofextinctionwithouthumanprotection

estuary: apartiallyenclosedbodyofwaterformedwherefreshwaterfromriversandstreamsflowsintotheocean,mixingwiththesaltyseawater

extinct:nolongerexisting

habitat:thespecificplacewherelivingorganismsfindthethingstheyneedtosurvive,suchasfood,shelter,waterandspace

headwater: thewaterfromwhichariveroriginates

herbivore:animalthatfeedschieflyonplants

lakes:inlandbodiesoffreshwater,naturalorconstructed,usuallysurroundedbyland

living organism:alivingplantoranimalsystem

migrate: tochangehabitatorlocationperiodically,asinresponsetoseasonalchanges

recharge:theadditionofwater

rivers:createdfromexcessrainwaterthatflowsofftheland

salinity:amountofsalt

species:agroupofplantsoranimalsthataregeneticallysimilarandreproducewitheachother

species of special concern:onethatdoesnotclearlyfitintotheendangeredorthreatenedcategories,yetwarrantsspecialattention

springs:occurwheregroundwater,orwaterstoredinundergroundaquifers,comestothesurface

stewardship:senseofsharedresponsibility;management

stormwater runoff:extrarainwaterthatdoesnotsoakintotheground

threatened species:onethatislikelytobecomeendangeredintheforeseeablefutureunlessconservationactionsaretaken

wetlands:landsthatarewetall,orpart,oftheyear(oranareabetweendrylandandopenwater);sometimescoveredwithashallowlayerofwater,buttherearealsowetlandsthatcanbedryforpartoftheyear

wildlife:animalsorplantslivinginanaturalstate

COM rev 11-2012