What Is This Swamp Doing in My Backyard?

Balancing Water Needs … Protecting Natural Systems Southwest Florida Water Management District

No Dumping Where to Go for Help The law prohibits dumping any trash, Information about native plants is available at What Is pesticides, herbicides or other chemicals in your local county Extension Service Office or wetlands. These actions harm native plants, kill online at http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu (type “Common wildlife and degrade water quality. Native Plants” in the search box). This Swamp Reduce Light and Noise Pollution For information about Doing in Bright lights and loud noises scare wetland wildlife, contact: wildlife and disrupt their natural patterns. Avoid Florida Fish and shining lights directly into wetlands at night and Wildlife Conservation Commission My Back Yard? limit the amount of noise coming from your 3900 Drane Field Road home. Lakeland, FL 33811-1299 Planting Florida-native shrubs in front of (863) 648-3203 wetlands bordering your property can help reduce the amount of light and noise entering For information about the wetlands. protecting wetlands, contact: Southwest Florida Thank You! Water Management District By reading this pamphlet, you have taken the Brooksville Headquarters first step toward understanding and preserving 2379 Broad Street Florida’s wonderful wetlands. Thank you for Brooksville, FL 34604-6899 helping to protect this valuable resource! (352) 796-7211 • 1-800-423-1476 (FL only) Bartow Service Office 170 Century Boulevard Bartow, FL 33830-7700 (863) 534-1448 • 1-800-492-7862 (FL only) Sarasota Service Office 6750 Fruitville Road Sarasota, FL 34240-9711

VISAY0002 01-06 (941) 377-3722 • 1-800-320-3503 (FL only) Tampa Service Office 7601 Highway 301 North This information will be made available in accessible formats upon request. Tampa, FL 33637-6759 Please contact the Communications Department at (352) 796-7211 or 1-800-423-1476 (FL only), ext. 4757; TDD only at 1-800-231-6103 (FL only). (813) 985-7481 • 1-800-836-0797 (FL only) I Love My Swamp! Know Your Wetland Protecting Your Many people that live near Florida’s swamps Subdivision developers are now required to Wetland or other wetland areas believe the common preserve wetlands and inform new residents of If you live next to a wetland, then you are the misconception that wetlands are useless restrictions regarding actions first line of defense in protecting and preserving wastelands that only harbor dangerous animals, in and adjacent to wetlands. it. Here are some things you can do to help: stinging insects and stagnant water. Your property survey should But if you live next to a wetland, consider indicate any wetland Ask Before Altering Wetlands yourself lucky! You actually live next to a natural boundary limits. botanical garden and thriving wildlife refuge. Older homes and In most cases it is illegal to clear, fill, excavate In fact, wetlands provide a variety of natural subdivisions may not have or build structures in wetlands without proper functions essential to Florida’s ecology, such as: wetland boundary limits on their property permits. Since state laws, local laws and some surveys. But you can still easily determine if you deed restrictions protect wetlands and their • Serving as habitat for a wide variety of native live next to a wetland. Here’s buffer areas, it’s best to leave wetlands alone. plants and beneficial animals (some of which what to look for: However, if you do wish to do work in or near are threatened or endangered) wetlands adjacent to your property, you should • Wetland areas are soaked • Filtering pollutants from the water supply first consult with the Southwest Florida Water or flooded by water for part Management District (District), as well as • Preventing flood damage by storing of the year review the deed restrictions for your floodwaters • Some types of wetlands subdivision. • Moderating temperatures by slowly releasing include forested swamps, grassy marshes, Never Add, Remove or Trim heat on cold winter days and by cooling the vegetated lake shorelines, forested river Wetland Vegetation air during hot summer days floodplains and wet prairies • Plants that thrive in While the wetlands next to your property Wetlands in Danger wetlands include may seem unruly, you should resist the temptation to add decorative plants, remove In the 1800s, wetlands covered more than half pickerelweed, cattails, unsightly plants (by hand or by using of Florida. As humans developed the state, water lilies, sedges and herbicides) or trim any vegetation. wetlands were routinely destroyed, drained and rushes With the guidance of District environmental filled. • Trees that thrive in wetlands include cypress, staff, it may be permissible to selectively trim or In the early 1970s, people began to realize that maple, willow, bay, elm, laurel and water oak remove undesirable or invasive plant species to wetlands actually provide valuable habitats, enhance the habitat value of the wetlands. protect the state’s water supply and store • An abundant variety of You could also plant a screen of Florida- floodwaters. As perceptions changed, laws were birds, amphibians, reptiles native shrubs in front of “messy-looking” enacted to protect wetlands and preserve their and mammals wetland areas. In addition to improving the essential functions. view, these plants may serve to attract But the decades of abuse have taken their toll. butterflies, birds and other beneficial wildlife. Florida has lost nearly half of its wetlands since pioneer times. With help from residents, the remaining wetlands can be protected and preserved to benefit future generations. I Love My Swamp! Know Your Wetland Protecting Your Many people that live near Florida’s swamps Subdivision developers are now required to Wetland or other wetland areas believe the common preserve wetlands and inform new residents of If you live next to a wetland, then you are the misconception that wetlands are useless restrictions regarding actions first line of defense in protecting and preserving wastelands that only harbor dangerous animals, in and adjacent to wetlands. it. Here are some things you can do to help: stinging insects and stagnant water. Your property survey should But if you live next to a wetland, consider indicate any wetland Ask Before Altering Wetlands yourself lucky! You actually live next to a natural boundary limits. botanical garden and thriving wildlife refuge. Older homes and In most cases it is illegal to clear, fill, excavate In fact, wetlands provide a variety of natural subdivisions may not have or build structures in wetlands without proper functions essential to Florida’s ecology, such as: wetland boundary limits on their property permits. Since state laws, local laws and some surveys. But you can still easily determine if you deed restrictions protect wetlands and their • Serving as habitat for a wide variety of native live next to a wetland. Here’s buffer areas, it’s best to leave wetlands alone. plants and beneficial animals (some of which what to look for: However, if you do wish to do work in or near are threatened or endangered) wetlands adjacent to your property, you should • Wetland areas are soaked • Filtering pollutants from the water supply first consult with the Southwest Florida Water or flooded by water for part Management District (District), as well as • Preventing flood damage by storing of the year review the deed restrictions for your floodwaters • Some types of wetlands subdivision. • Moderating temperatures by slowly releasing include forested swamps, grassy marshes, Never Add, Remove or Trim heat on cold winter days and by cooling the vegetated lake shorelines, forested river Wetland Vegetation air during hot summer days floodplains and wet prairies • Plants that thrive in While the wetlands next to your property Wetlands in Danger wetlands include may seem unruly, you should resist the temptation to add decorative plants, remove In the 1800s, wetlands covered more than half pickerelweed, cattails, unsightly plants (by hand or by using of Florida. As humans developed the state, water lilies, sedges and herbicides) or trim any vegetation. wetlands were routinely destroyed, drained and rushes With the guidance of District environmental filled. • Trees that thrive in wetlands include cypress, staff, it may be permissible to selectively trim or In the early 1970s, people began to realize that maple, willow, bay, elm, laurel and water oak remove undesirable or invasive plant species to wetlands actually provide valuable habitats, enhance the habitat value of the wetlands. protect the state’s water supply and store • An abundant variety of You could also plant a screen of Florida- floodwaters. As perceptions changed, laws were birds, amphibians, reptiles native shrubs in front of “messy-looking” enacted to protect wetlands and preserve their and mammals wetland areas. In addition to improving the essential functions. view, these plants may serve to attract But the decades of abuse have taken their toll. butterflies, birds and other beneficial wildlife. Florida has lost nearly half of its wetlands since pioneer times. With help from residents, the remaining wetlands can be protected and preserved to benefit future generations. I Love My Swamp! Know Your Wetland Protecting Your Many people that live near Florida’s swamps Subdivision developers are now required to Wetland or other wetland areas believe the common preserve wetlands and inform new residents of If you live next to a wetland, then you are the misconception that wetlands are useless restrictions regarding actions first line of defense in protecting and preserving wastelands that only harbor dangerous animals, in and adjacent to wetlands. it. Here are some things you can do to help: stinging insects and stagnant water. Your property survey should But if you live next to a wetland, consider indicate any wetland Ask Before Altering Wetlands yourself lucky! You actually live next to a natural boundary limits. botanical garden and thriving wildlife refuge. Older homes and In most cases it is illegal to clear, fill, excavate In fact, wetlands provide a variety of natural subdivisions may not have or build structures in wetlands without proper functions essential to Florida’s ecology, such as: wetland boundary limits on their property permits. Since state laws, local laws and some surveys. But you can still easily determine if you deed restrictions protect wetlands and their • Serving as habitat for a wide variety of native live next to a wetland. Here’s buffer areas, it’s best to leave wetlands alone. plants and beneficial animals (some of which what to look for: However, if you do wish to do work in or near are threatened or endangered) wetlands adjacent to your property, you should • Wetland areas are soaked • Filtering pollutants from the water supply first consult with the Southwest Florida Water or flooded by water for part Management District (District), as well as • Preventing flood damage by storing of the year review the deed restrictions for your floodwaters • Some types of wetlands subdivision. • Moderating temperatures by slowly releasing include forested swamps, grassy marshes, Never Add, Remove or Trim heat on cold winter days and by cooling the vegetated lake shorelines, forested river Wetland Vegetation air during hot summer days floodplains and wet prairies • Plants that thrive in While the wetlands next to your property Wetlands in Danger wetlands include may seem unruly, you should resist the temptation to add decorative plants, remove In the 1800s, wetlands covered more than half pickerelweed, cattails, unsightly plants (by hand or by using of Florida. As humans developed the state, water lilies, sedges and herbicides) or trim any vegetation. wetlands were routinely destroyed, drained and rushes With the guidance of District environmental filled. • Trees that thrive in wetlands include cypress, staff, it may be permissible to selectively trim or In the early 1970s, people began to realize that maple, willow, bay, elm, laurel and water oak remove undesirable or invasive plant species to wetlands actually provide valuable habitats, enhance the habitat value of the wetlands. protect the state’s water supply and store • An abundant variety of You could also plant a screen of Florida- floodwaters. As perceptions changed, laws were birds, amphibians, reptiles native shrubs in front of “messy-looking” enacted to protect wetlands and preserve their and mammals wetland areas. In addition to improving the essential functions. view, these plants may serve to attract But the decades of abuse have taken their toll. butterflies, birds and other beneficial wildlife. Florida has lost nearly half of its wetlands since pioneer times. With help from residents, the remaining wetlands can be protected and preserved to benefit future generations. Balancing Water Needs … Protecting Natural Systems Southwest Florida Water Management District