Florida LAKEWATCH Dedicated to Sharing Information About Water Management and the Florida LAKEWATCH Program Volume XXV 2003

Fred Hartwell This photo of Lake Joiner was one of several images Fred Hartwell sent to LAKEWATCH as evidence of the natural treasures to be found in Washington County. Happy 17th Birthday LAKEWATCH! t’s time to bake a cake and light the An additional 165 “special” samples professional organizations, six citizen candles; this month, the Florida have also been collected and analyzed due groups, ten schools and 114 homeowner ILAKEWATCH (FLW) program will to concerns from volunteers such as drainage associations! We’d like to thank every be 17 years old! The first water sample outfalls, ditches, unusual rain events or single one of these groups/organizations was collected for FLW on August 16, algae blooms. (Note: Due to the tremendous for working with us, but it would take up 1986 and after that....well, the rest is volume of samples analyzed in our labora- the entire newsletter to do so. (We do try history.1 tory, FLW is only able to analyze a small to acknowledge them in the newsletter, The first thing we’d like to do is number of these samples each year.) when possible.) thank our volunteers, including those who Aside from just sheer sampling duties, While we’re in a thanking mode, are still monitoring and others who have the program has matured in other ways: there is one group of dedicated individuals given their time and energy in prior years. we’ve developed active partnerships with a who may not be as visible as our volunteers Because of you, FLW is one of the host of state, federal and private entities to or regional coordinators, but their work is largest, most successful volunteer water better serve Florida’s citizenry and to vital to the success of the program: FLW’s monitoring programs in the country — facilitate a constant flow of information and truly something to celebrate. dialogue concerning water management. In Continued on page 2. Through these 17 years, volunteers 2002 alone, FLW partnered with four have sampled in 56 counties on a total of federal and 15 state agencies, 15 county and 1871 water bodies including 1213 lakes, eight city governments, 18 parks and 280 coastal sites, 204 river sites and nine preserves, 25 UF/IFAS Cooperative springs. Extension offices, ten private business and 1 See Volume XVI for more on how FLW began (i.e., Why LAKEWATCH Can’t Be an Advocate). 1 laboratory technicians and bottle washers are the unsung heroes working behind the scenes LAKEWATCH would also like to acknowledge the agencies, groups, and to make water analysis possible: organizations that serve as collection centers for our water samples. • Senior Chemist Mary Stonecipher Without use of these facilities, we would not be able to store and oversees the lab and keeps things running process thousands of samples across the state each month. Please smoothly. She also calculates the data, enters all the Secchi depth measurements take a few moments to read the list below and remember to thank from your data sheets, and checks water these folks, if you have the chance. If we’ve forgotten anyone, please let chemistry results for any unusual results us know so we can give credit where credit is due! or “red flags” that may pop up. • Tad DeGroat receives and sorts incoming Businesses and Professional Parks and Preserves (continued) water samples and prepares them for Organizations Crystal River Buffer Aquatic Preserve phosphorus and nitrogen analysis. He also Alligator Inn (Osceola)* (Citrus) processes samples for supplemental water Grand Tours (Charlotte) Gold Head Branch State Park (Clay) chemistry (pH, alkalinity, conductivity, International Game Assoc. (Broward) Keystone Civic Association Park chloride, chlorophyll and color). Lake Placid Marine (Highlands) (Hillsborough) • John Douglas runs the tests for total Palm Coast Development (Flagler) Lithia Springs Park (Hillsborough) nitrogen on each and every sample. He also Maclay Gardens State Park (Leon) keeps some of our more complicated Citizen Groups Manatee Springs State Park (Levy) instruments functioning. Choctawhatchee Basin Alliance Moccasin Lake Nature Park (Pinellas) • Kelly Schulz is responsible for analyzing (Walton, Okaloosa) Nye Park (Hillsborough) samples for total phosphorus concentrations St. Andrew Bay Resource Management SanibelÐCaptiva Conservation and performing color analysis. Association (Bay) Foundation and Tarpon Bay Lab (Lee) • Wanda Garfield is responsible for Silver River State Park (Marion) processing chlorophyll filters for total City and County Agencies chlorophyll measurements, as well as Casselberry Stormwater Utilities (Seminole) Schools keeping the desiccant supply up to date. Deering Estate at Cutler (Miami-Dade) OkaloosaÐWalton Community College She also assists with supplemental samples. Keystone Heights-City Hall (Clay) (Okaloosa, Walton) • Kim Smith, Jonna Weaver, and James Lake County Growth Management (Lake) Walker Memorial Junior Academy Weaver have the thankless job of washing Lake County Water Authority (Lake) (Highlands) every bottle and test tube—thousands per Lake Region Lakes Management District month! (Polk) UF/IFAS Cooperative Extension • Christy Horsburgh, Sr. Biological Loxahatchee River District (Palm Beach) Offices (listed by County) Scientist, verifies the completed data and Melrose Fire Station (Putnam) Brevard, Citrus, Clay, Escambia, Flagler, downloads it from the laboratory computer Ocoee PPTD (Orange) Hamilton, Highlands, Hillsborough, to her computer. She then formats it so Orlando Stormwater Utility Bureau (Orange) Leon, Miami-Dade, Orange, Okeechobee, that it is accessible to everyone including Sacred Heart Rescue (Walton) Osceola, Santa Rosa, Seminole, St. Lucie, volunteers, state agencies, consultants, etc. Seminole County Fire Dept. (Seminole) Sumter, Taylor, Volusia, Wakulla, It’s impressive to say the least. But St. Joseph Bay Aquatic Preserve Apala- Walton, and Washington our work doesn’t end there. Once the data chicola National Estuarine (Gulf) are safely stored in a database, our staff Tropical Park (Miami-Dade) * County Location processes thousands of data requests each year, along with a number of information Federal and State Agencies circulars, scientific publications, graduate Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary student projects, etc. Not bad for a program South Florida Water Management District that began with the simple idea that citizens St. Johns River Water Management District could collect their own water samples and SW Florida Water Management District then work with scientists, politicians, water U.S. Forest Service—Ocala National managers and others to increase our Forest Visitors Center knowledge about Florida’s vast aquatic habitats. To coin a phrase, “it takes a village Parks and Preserves to manage a lake” and we’d like to thank Boyd Hill Nature Park (Pinellas) everyone who has contributed and continues Camp Bayou Nature Preserve to contribute. Your efforts make this program (Hillsborough) a reality, year after year. So, Happy Conservancy of Southwest Florida (Collier) Birthday! We hope you’re enjoying your lake just a little bit more this month. 2 Lake User Survey Results: “A lake cannot be all things to all people.”

hile the statement above may not be For example, someone from Iowa who is Wtoo surprising, it’s helpful to have used to lakes with 1-foot visibility and is numbers to back up a hypothesis and now living on a lake with an average 4-foot LAKEWATCH has done just that with its lake Secchi depth may have chosen answer number user survey project from last summer and fall one for question B (beautiful, couldn’t be (FLW VOL XXIV). Surveys were returned by better) and someone from Maine, who is volunteers from 116 lakes and, in recent used to lakes with 20-foot visibility and is months, the results have been processed and now living on a lake with a 3-foot Secchi studied by our staff. depth, might choose answer number four. The project provided plenty of food for Aside from looking for relationships thought as well as fodder for a scientific paper between lake user opinion and actual water that was written by FLW staff and submitted chemistry, the study underscores questions to Lake and Reservoir Management—an that arise when we use the words water international peer-reviewed journal of the quality and water chemistry interchangeably, as if there is no difference between the two.

North American Lake Management Society Jim Decker 2 (Hoyer, et. al). As described in the paper, Lake Reedy in Polk County In the paper, lead author Mark Hoyer makes results from the survey show a strong the point that water quality can only be connection between perceptions that lake as high as 100 µg/L. As the authors pointed measured after first defining the desired use users have about the physical properties of out in the paper, people’s ideas about water of the waterbody and also our preconcep- their lake water, the quality of the water and clarity are obviously very different. tions about what constitutes “good” water the actual trophic state of the lake.3 The same was true for the second question quality versus “bad.” In other words, “A lake While the surveys were short and simple, (Question B). Volunteers were asked to choose cannot be all things to all people.” with only two questions, the results are a little one of the following five responses that best Even though the LAKEWATCH study more complex. The first question on the described their opinion of how suitable their was done on a fairly small scale, it confirms survey (Question A) asked volunteers to lake water was for recreation and aesthetic what was learned in earlier lake user surveys describe the physical condition of their lake enjoyment: conducted in Minnesota and Vermont (Smeltzer and Heiskary 1990). It’s also water on the same day they collected samples 1) Beautiful, couldn’t be nicer for LAKEWATCH. They were given five 2) Very minor aesthetic problems; excellent for helped FLW staff develop ideas for future answers to choose from: swimming surveys. In fact, FLW hopes to do more projects that will include a number of lake 1) Crystal clear 3) Swimming and aesthetic enjoyment slightly residents from each lake and also broaden 2) Not quite crystal clear, a little algae visible. impaired due to the presence of algae 3) Definite algal-related green, yellow, or brown 4) Desire to swim and level of enjoyment is the scope to include factors other than algae coloration apparent in the water substantially reduced due to the presence of algae such as aquatic plants, fish, birds, etc. 4) High algal levels with limited water clarity 5) Swimming and aesthetic enjoyment of lake Many thanks to the volunteers who and /or mild odor apparent. nearly impossible due to the presence of algae. participated in this project! 5) Severely high algae levels with one or more of Again, responses showed a correlation the following: massive amounts of floating scum between people’s perception of water quality on lake or washed up on shoreline; strong foul 2 Mark V. Hoyer, Claude D. Brown, and Daniel and the amount of algae in their lake at the E. Canfield, Jr. “Relations Between Water odor; or a fish kill. time (i.e., the lake’s trophic state). The survey Chemistry and Water Quality as Defined by Results from this first question showed results also suggest that there seems to be Lake Users in Florida.” that, in general, people’s opinion about the regional differences in people’s opinions about 3 The phrase “trophic state” refers to a lake physical condition of their lake water seemed water clarity and water quality: volunteers classification system. Using this system, a to correlate with the actual amount of algae in who live on lakes in the Central Valley Lake waterbody can be grouped into one of four water that day (i.e., measured as chlorophyll Region in Florida, an area with limited water categories based on its level of biological concentrations). However, it was interesting clarity—due to the lakes being situated in productivity (i.e., the amount of algae or plants). that for each of the five responses that people nutrient rich soils—showed more acceptance For this project, FLW used chlorophyll chose, there was a surprisingly wide range of toward algae in their lakes whereas those who measurements as its criteria for determining chlorophyll concentrations. For instance, live in the Trail Ridge Lake Region (i.e., an trophic state, which was then compared with volunteers who described their water as area with low nutrient soils and clear-water volunteer survey responses collected on the same “crystal clear” (response #1) submitted water lakes), generally were less tolerant of high sampling date. For more about trophic state see: samples that, when analyzed, contained algae concentrations.4 http://lakewatch.ifas.ufl.edu/circpdffolder/trophic.pdf chlorophyll concentrations ranging from less This was not a surprise to FLW staff who 4 Lake Regions are further defined in a report than one microgram per liter (µg/L) to 12 µg/L. have gotten to know hundreds of volunteers entitled Lake Regions of Florida (Griffith. G.E. People who described their lake as “not quite over the years, many of which have moved et al. 1997). For a basic description of the crystal clear” (response #2) also had a wide here from other states. As one would expect, project, see Lake Regions: A Classification range of chlorophyll values for their lake people bring their opinions with them, and System, available on-line at: samples - ranging from just over one µg/L to they are usually based on previous experience. http:/lakewatch.ifas.ufl.edu/LWcirc.html. 3 Volunteer Bulletin Board

Hot Off the Press! Information Circular 107 A Beginner’s Guide to Water Management — Attention Volunteers: This 16-page publication was inspired by the man ‘GPS’ Coordinates Needed volunteers and other lake residents have had regarding dying fish in their lake. In an effort to alleviate some o concerns, as well as inform the general public, we’ve When LAKEWATCH began, the cost of purchasing a Global Positioning five of the most common natural causes of fish kills (e System (GPS) device was in the thousands of dollars, making them out of reach dissolved oxygen, spawning fatalities, mortality due to for most volunteers and even our research staff. So, for a long time, only one lake temperatures, diseases and parasites and toxic algae b location coordinate (latitude/longitude) has been recorded for each lake—usually Human-induced fish kills are also covered along with Station #2 in the center of the lake—and it was estimated using geological survey fish stress—a component of virtually every fish kill si maps, etc. As a result, many lakes have only one coordinate available and even Should a fish kill occur in your area, the last section o that may not be representative of the exact location being sampled. provides steps you can take to help determine the caus Now that GPS technology is considerably cheaper (around $200), many of fish health diagnostic laboratories is provided on th volunteers have purchased them for their own use on lakes and along the coast. for those who want to take a more active role. This means that many of you can help us out immensely by taking a few minutes Look for your copy in your annual data packet, w during your next monitoring session to jot down the GPS coordinates for each annual Volunteer Appreciation Regional Meeting. You station being sampled. This will allow us to provide a more accurate documenta- the FLW office, or by downloading a free copy (a PDF tion of your monitoring sites on the LAKEWATCH database, as well as the U.S. EPA STORET database. http://lakewatch.ifas.ufl.edu/LWcirc.html Pho If you’ve already collected these numbers and turned them into your regional E-mail: lakewat@ coordinator, please pat yourself on the back and accept our heartfelt thanks. If you don’t have a GPS, there’s a good chance your neighbor does and maybe he or she LAKEWATCH Data would be willing to join you on your next sampling session. (It’s also a good way In addition to our 17th birthday celebration, FLW is ha to introduce folks to LAKEWATCH!) Coordinates can be passed along to the data set is now available on STORET, a database adm LAKEWATCH Office in any of the following ways: Agency (EPA). STORET is an acronym for STOrage Phone: 1-800-LAKEWATCH (800-525-3928) store water quality data for the entire nation. Fax: 352/392-4902 Thanks to Kyle Campbell and Sean Landry at the U E-mail: [email protected] Design and Research, the LAKEWATCH’s raw data h Samples: Package it along with your monthly water samples. on-line: http://storet.dep.state.fl.us. (Kyle and Sean are Mail: Florida LAKEWATCH on-line water atlas for Hillsborough, Seminole and Po 7922 NW 71ST Street STORET is a primary data source used to create Gainesville, FL 32653-3071 Congress (305(b) report), which evaluates the status o from STORET are used, along with other sources, to d Thanks for your help ! water quality standards and require the development o also used in watershed analysis, monitoring program e evaluation, public information requests, and evaluation fishery restoration. Spencer A word of advice: Don’t be too upset if you have it is quite cumbersome and even data professionals ha and Taylor is just one way citizens and scientists can access our d Smolen maintain its own database and makes data available to help basic easy-to-use formats: Summaries for each lake ar provided electronically within a spreadsheet or a data sample formatted to be user friendly and include tables (lists o Lake Fuller graphs that provide a nice visual comparison of the wa in Walton If you have any questions, comments, or concer STORET hotline: 1-800-424-9067 or visit: http:// County, If you would like to request data direct during the Phone: (800) LAKEWATCH (525 summer. E-mail: [email protected] Phillip Ellis Fax: (352) 392-4902 * For more on TMDLs, visit http://www.dep.state.fl.us

4 Project COAST Update or years, scientists have been documenting waters (i.e., compared to chlorophyll- Fthe influence that nutrients (phosphorus phosphorus relationships found in freshwater and nitrogen) have on chlorophyll concentrations lakes). While the study doesn’t offer an (algae) in freshwater lakes. After much research, outright explanation for this phenomenon, it Fish Kills it can be said that, in general, phosphorus is does a good job of documenting differences ny questions the nutrient with the greatest potential for between phosphorus-chlorophyll relationships g dead or encouraging algal growth in freshwater systems. in marine waters versus freshwater lakes. of their In recent years, scientists have been using this Another interesting finding from our first crack at examining coastal waters is the fact explained hard-earned knowledge to try and manage that, like freshwater lakes, phosphorus is e.g., low nutrient inputs, usually phosphorus, into lakes as a way of limiting algal growth. Sometimes probably the major limiting nutrient in o cold they use the information to develop scientific nearshore coastal waters. In other words, if looms). models for predicting how their management large amounts of phosphorus are introduced h a section on activities will impact the biological productivity into nearshore coastal waters, it will most ituation. or “trophic status” of lakes. likely spur algal growth, but if the amount of of the circular In Florida, scientists have only recently phosphorus is limited, algal growth will be se. A listing begun to examine these same nutrient-chloro- limited. This is interesting, considering that he last page, phyll relationships for the purpose of managing most coastal researchers believe that nitrogen algal growth in nearshore coastal waters. But is the primary limiting nutrient. While a lot of which will be mailed or hand-delivered at your before they can be effective, one major question additional research needs to be done in the u can also obtain a copy by calling or e-mailing needs to be answered: are the nutrient- nearshore coastal waters of Florida, these two F file) off our website at: chlorophyll relationships that are already findings will help set the direction for future developed for freshwater lakes applicable to research. one: 1-800-LAKEWATCH (1-800-525-3928) managing nearshore coastal waters? If so, The sad news is that funding for the @ufl.edu Florida’s coastal areas could be managed with Project COAST component of our program the same management tools that have been has not been continued due to state budget a Now on STORET established for freshwater. constraints. But the good news is that, we are appy to announce that its complete water chemistry As many of you will remember, dedicated to maintaining the ones we have ministered by the U.S. Environmental Protection LAKEWATCH initiated a coastal monitoring started, even if we don’t have the funds to and RETreival and is a data repository used to effort in 2000, known as Project COAST, to expand COAST. We are also convinced that try and gather data to answer that very question. the data we collect through this program will advance the limited knowledge that exists University of South Florida/Center for Community For two intense years, COAST volunteers worked with FLW staff to survey more than about our nearshore coastal waters and help in has been uploaded to STORET and can be accessed 300 nearshore coastal sites around the entire their management. e the same talented individuals who put together an state. Once the data were collected and the FLW owes a belated but enthusiastic olk counties.) numbers “crunched,” the project revealed a thanks to all the volunteers who sampled and/ the National Water Quality Inventory Report to rather interesting surprise, plenty of new or assisted our staff for this project, and who of water quality in the nation every two years. Data questions, and it even inspired the publication continue to sample their coastal waters. Your determine which of the state’s waters fail to meet of a research paper.5 The surprise: For some efforts are helping to forge a path toward better of Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs)* It is reason, the amount of chlorophyll “per unit of management of our state waters—both fresh evaluation and planning, water quality standards phosphorus” is about 75% less in algae and salt. n of water quality conditions for habitat and sampled from Florida’s nearshore coastal

trouble navigating through the STORET system as 5 Mark V. Hoyer, Thomas K. Frazer, Sky K. Notestein, and Daniel E. Canfield, Jr. 2002. Nutrient, chlorophyll, and water clarity relationships in Florida’s nearshore coastal waters with comparisons to ave a hard time using it. But do not fear. STORET freshwater lakes. Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences. Volume 59. Number 6. pps1024-1031 data. As always, LAKEWATCH continues to o anyone who requests it. We provide it in three re available on our web-site; raw data can be packet can also be requested. The packets are of numbers for each monitoring station) and also ater chemistry from month to month. rns about Florida STORET, call the EPA /www.dep.state.fl.us/water/storet/index.htm. tly from LAKEWATCH, contact us at: 5-3928) or (352) 392-4817

Phillip Ellis s/water/tmdl. Lake Stalworth, one of Florida’s unique dune lakes found in Walton County, is temporarily connected to the Gulf of Mexico, as shown here. 5 Featured Fish: Gizzard shad & threadfin shad

he term shad is commonly used by Both the gizzard shad and threadfin Tanglers to describe a variety of small have a long thin ray at the base of the forage fish that inhabit both saltwater and dorsal fin.However, gizzard shad are freshwater environments. While most shad missing the small black specks found on a species live in saltwater, there are a few that threadfin’s chin or floor of the mouth. thrive in freshwater lakes—especially This fish enjoys a wide distribution highly productive or eutrophic lakes.7 from the St. Lawrence River/Great Lakes Gizzard shad and threadfin shad are two area, throughout the Mississippi, Atlantic

Dr. Mike Allen Mike Dr. species commonly found in Florida lakes, Gizzard shad ( cepedianum) and the Gulf of Mexico. In Florida, they and lately, they have become a hot topic spawn in the spring as water temperatures within the state’s water management circles. increase, primarily from March to April. Its A number of scientists and lake adhesive-like eggs are released into shallow managers are theorizing that both algae and open water or near aquatic vegetation. Large phosphorus concentrations can be reduced post-spawn die-offs are common with in a lake by removing as many of these fish gizzard shad populations, sometimes as possible. Their reasoning is based on three FWC causing alarm among lake residents. (For simple hypotheses: Threadfin shad (Dorosoma petenense) more on this, see our new Fish Kill circular at http://lakewatch.ifas.ufl.edu/LWcirc.html ) Because shad store phosphorus in their • disturbing bottom sediments in their search Young gizzard shad feed mostly on bodies, removing them from a lake would for food. Not only does this contribute to protozoa and rotifers.10 Adults eat phytoplank- be a fairly easy way of reducing the overall turbidity problems in a lake, but it also re- ton, zooplankton, and detritus, which is one amount of phosphorus in a lake system. introduces nutrients that would otherwise reason they tend to be found in “hard-water” • Because shad populations feed primarily would have settled to the bottom. nutrient rich lakes. They are most common on zooplankton;8 some scientists theorize Based on these theories, a number of in deep, open water of medium to large that, in nutrient-rich lakes, the food chain lake managers are wanting to remove large rivers, lakes and reservoirs, but have been dynamic results in higher algal populations. numbers of shad from nutrient-rich lakes, as known to swim up small rivers with well- (i.e., Algae are the main food source for zoo- a way of reducing algae. In fact, this very developed pools. They are also found in plankton; so if zooplankton are consumed in technique was recently tried on Lake brackish water. large quantities, algae will be abundant.) Apopka in central Florida but the verdict is Gizzard shad are not considered sport- still out as to whether or not it had an fish. (Their habit of producing copious • Large schools of shad act as nutrient impact; algae levels remain high in the lake “pumps” because they are constantly amounts of slime might have something to and there is some question as to whether or do with this.) However, young gizzard shad not enough shad were removed for the are an important primary food fish for 7 The term eutrophic is used to describe lakes effort to be successful. A lake restoration , sunshine bass, and black with a high level of biological productivity, including study done in Denmark, shows that 80% of crappie in many Florida lakes. large amounts of algae and/or aquatic plants. a lake’s shad population must be removed For the purposes of this article, it is used to before algae concentrations can be lowered.9 Threadfin shad (Dorosoma petenense) describe lakes with large concentrations of algae Threadfin shad have a more pointed (between 7 and 40 micrograms per liter [ g/L]). µ Gizzard shad (Dorosoma cepedianum) snout and its mouth is located right at the 8 Tiny free-floating that drift in the water Both gizzard and threadfin shad are end (i.e., a “terminal mouth”) whereas the current, mainly small crustaceans and fish larvae. rather thin and flat, or laterally compressed gizzard shad’s mouth is located just below 9 Martin Sondergaard, Erik Jeppesen, Jens Peder as the scientists like to say. Gizzard shad the snout. Growing to around nine inches at Jensen and Torben Lauridsen. Lake Restoration are the larger of the two species, measuring most, threadfin shad are the smaller of the in Denmark. Lakes & Reservoirs: Research and up to 20 inches in length. With silvery two fish. Their yellow fins provide the most Management 2000 5: 151-159. scales and blue-green reflective hues obvious distinguishing characteristic from 10 Rotifers are minute aquatic multicellular shimmering along its back, it’s a handsome the gizzard shad. Also, threadfin shad have organisms with a feathery wheel-like organ for fish, even if it is considered “just a bait small black specks on its chin or floor of the feeding and locomotion; they are constituents of fish.” A dark purple-blue spot can usually mouth. Something the gizzard shad does not freshwater plankton. Source: WordNet (r) 1.6, (c) be found near the upper edge of its gill have. 1997 Princeton University. cover in young and small adults but is Young threadfin shad eat virtually the 11 Phytoplankton Ð Microscopic free-floating or faint or absent in fully adult fish. At times, same food as the gizzard shad and therefore drifting aquatic plant-like organisms; six to eight dark stripes are visible along is also commonly found in nutrient rich Zooplankton Ð Tiny free-floating animals that drift its back and upper side. It has a saw-tooth lakes, backwaters, and pools in medium to in the water current, mainly small crustaceans and or serrated edge along the bottom (i.e., its large rivers. They’re usually found in open rotifers; Detritus Ð Dead or dying plant or belly) with dusky or dark gray fins. water over sand, mud or debris. material. 6 Featured Bird Cattle Egret

he cattle egret (Bubulcus ibis) is the Tland-lubber of the heron family, mostly foraging for its food in dry or moist upland habitats at the feet of large cattle or behind mowers or tractors. Their unique feeding technique is dependent on capturing insects disturbed when large animals and/or machines pass by. In fact, of all its wading bird cousins, the cattle egret is the least dependent on aquatic animals for food. (Grasshoppers are a favorite food item.) And yet, even though they’re rarely seen wading in water, cattle egrets seem to prefer nesting or roosting in trees and bushes that are right next to a waterbody or very close by. Often they’ll outnumber all other wading bird species in an area. Dan Sudia Sporting a yellow bill, yellow eyes, and Cattle egret (Bubulcus ibis) relatively short black legs, the cattle egret is about the same size as the snowy egret. Its Their nests consist of a platforms of due to differing methods in the two dark black feet provide one sure way to sticks that hold two to 5 blue-green eggs, surveys (Runde et al. 1991). Causes for distinguish it from the snowy, which is which hatch in 21 to 24 days. Once hatched, the decline could be due to loss of famous for its yellow “slippers.” In breeding the young fledge in 40 to 45 days. Nesting wetlands for breeding habitat, conversion plumage, the cattle egret develops rust generally occurs during late spring and of agricultural pastures to other uses, and colored wisps of feathers on its head, back summer, somewhat later than other wading the nomadic movements of birds to other and chest. Because it is similar in appear- birds. breeding locations in the United States. ance to a number of waders (e.g., the snowy Because they like to roost in large egret, or the little blue heron in its juvenile numbers near water, the cattle egret is phase), the Cattle Egret is sometimes capable of causing a nutrient problem for Sources maligned by bird watching novices who some lakes, as bird droppings can raise a Florida’s Breeding Bird Atlas initially think they are setting their sights on lake’s nitrogen concentrations rather http://wildflorida.org/bba/CAEG.htm a wading bird only to watch it land in an effectively. Author: Bruce Anderson open field or on the back of a cow— a very Even though these birds are considered un-cool thing for a wading bird to do. The Wild Things website an exotic species, there is some concern Traveling in flocks, these birds are a FGCU (Florida Gulf Coast University) among bird enthusiasts that breeding familiar sight along Florida’s roadsides, http://wildthings.fgcu.edu/transcripts/ numbers may be dwindling. Comparisons pastures, and prairies. They are thought to script140.html; Author: Jerry Jackson of statewide colony surveys from 1976-78 have made their way from their native and 1986-89 suggest a dramatic decline in Florida’s Fabulous Waterbirds: Their Stories South Africa to northern sections of South breeding numbers; however, the magni- Third Edition 1983 (c) National Art America on the winds of a tropical storm. tude of the decline is difficult to estimate Services, Inc.; Author: Winston Williams Once there, they were able to expand their range both north and south and are now somewhat infamous for their rapid expan- You may have noticed that fish and bird names used in the newsletter appear by sion into North America. Virtually unknown their common name first (e.g., gizzard shad) and then are followed by the in the United States until 1942, the Cattle scientific name (e.g., Dorosoma cepedianum). Because the common name of an Egret now breeds from New England west animal may vary from place to place, some people, especially scientists, like to to southern Ontario and Minnesota, and rely on the scientific name for identification. Scientific names generally consist of south through central Texas into Mexico. It also summers regularly in Arizona, New two Latin-based words; both of which are italicized. For example, the scientific Mexico, and California. It was first reported name for the gizzard shad is Dorosoma cepedianum. The first word — Dorosoma— in Florida at Clewiston in Hendry County in refers to the genus group that the fish belongs to; it will always be capitalized. 1941 or 1942 (Crosby 1972). Within twenty The second word—cepedianum—refers to a smaller, more specific group within years, breeding populations were reported the genus Dorosoma, and so it is not capitalized. At times, you may see a three- throughout most of the state. part scientific name. This is used for animals identified as a subspecies.

7 Youth Education

Fishing For Success Earns Top Award

Our very own Fishing For Success (FFS) Fishing For Success (FFS) is a multi- program is proud to announce that it was faceted public outreach program that recently awarded the USDA’s highest introduces children of all ages to Florida’s recognition for outstanding contributions to freshwater environments. Using fishing as agriculture and consumers. The award was the “hook,” FFS connects youth with the given for “Enhancing the Capacity of All challenge and fun of fishing, as well as Rural Residents, Communities and career opportunities in the fields of fisheries Businesses to Prosper.” and environmental sciences. Last year, the FFS Co-director, Dr. Dan Canfield, Jr. program served more than 13,000 youth and traveled to Washington to accept the award their families. on behalf of the FFS team. The 57th Secretary’s Honor Awards Ceremony was For more information, contact Steve Caton held on June 13. at 392-9617 ext 270 or Amy Richard at ext 228.

LAKEWATCHer Wins Disney’s American Teacher of the Year Award Florida Gail McGoogan was surprised when she from across the nation, out of more than heard her name called out as Disney’s 185,000 nominees! Winners were honored in LAKE WATCH American Teacher of the Year, but we July at a Disneyland ceremony in California. weren’t. Mrs. McGoogan is a fourth grade A former dance instructor, Mrs. This newsletter is generated by the Florida teacher at the Narcoossee Community School McGoogan decided to go to college for a LAKEWATCH program, within UF/IFAS’ in St. Cloud, Florida (Osceola County) and like teaching degree in her 50s and is now a 10- Department of Fisheries and Aquatic many FLW volunteers, she is passionate about year veteran of Osceola County schools. She’s Sciences. Support for the LAKEWATCH program is provided by the Florida helping her community. In her case, this won numerous accolades for her imagina- Legislature, grants and donations. For more includes an incredible dedication to teaching. tive hands-on approach to teaching. She information about LAKEWATCH, to LAKEWATCH is just one of the many hopes to use the $10,000 school prize money inquire about volunteer training sessions, or projects she’s introduced to students. As on a project that will benefit her students and to submit materials for inclusion in this Principal Bill Dwyer said, “She’s very the community, including expansion of their publication, write to: creative. She goes the extra step to try to involvement with water monitoring and have her kids experience the lesson that’s other aquatic education projects. Editor / Florida LAKEWATCH being presented.” In addition to sampling Mrs. McGoogan attributes her success PO Box 110600 Cypress Lake with her class—as part of an to three simple words, a mantra of sorts: Gainesville, FL 32611 on-going lesson in freshwater ecology and Passion, Patience and Partnerships. As she or call stewardship—students and their parents have says so eloquently, “My passion is that 1-800-LAKEWATCH (800-525-3928) been involved in planting and tending students learn. Patience ensures that job gets (352) 392-9617 ext. 228 butterfly gardens; building pioneer cabins done. Yet nothing would be possible without E-mail: [email protected] and Seminole chickee hut as part of a partnerships with parents and others.” “living” museum; and most recently, they http://lakewatch.ifas.ufl.edu/ hosted an all-night school slumber party so All unsolicited articles, photographs, students could participate in an international artwork or other written material must video conferencing project that put them in include contributor’s name, address and touch with their peers in 21 of the world’s 24 phone number. Opinions expressed are time zones. Of course, we were delighted to solely those of the individual contributor hear that students in Nepal, Uzbekistan, and do not necessarily reflect the opinion or policy of the Florida LAKEWATCH Japan, Australia, etc. have all learned about program. Inclusion does not constitute LAKEWATCH as a result. endorsement, nor does exclusion represent McGoogan, earned top honors as the censure of any item, organization, individual, “outstanding” elementary teacher in this or institution by the University of Florida or

year’s Disney’s American Teacher Awards. Disney the Florida LAKEWATCH program. She was among 32 teachers who were chosen Mrs. Gail McGoogan, one of Disney’s American Teachers of the Year, with Mickey Mouse. 8