Annya Shalun

Leon County

Does your idea of a perfect Saturday include paddling on a beautiful waterway? Join Leon County at the Lake Jackson Clean-up on Saturday, Sept. 30, from 9 a.m. until noon to help beautify one of Leon County’s best natural resources.

Leon County has partnered with Tall Timbers, Friends of Lake Jackson, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection Office of Greenways and Trails, and Sustainable Tallahassee to host an on-the-water clean-up of Lake Jackson. Volunteers will not only help clean up some of the lake’s litter, but will also learn about the importance of maintaining the lake’s biodiversity, water quality, and how to keep the lake clean and healthy for generations to come.

Lake Jackson is one of Leon County’s largest prairie lakes, which means that its water levels are constantly fluctuating based on the amount of rain and the groundwater levels.

The lake feeds the Floridian Aquifer, the main water source for this region. Beyond being an important source of life for humans, Lake Jackson is home to an incredible variety of flora and fauna including cypress trees, water lilies, herons, snowy egrets, American alligators, limpkins, and bald eagles. The health and biodiversity of Lake Jackson is dependent on the control of stormwater pollution, invasive exotic plants, and algae blooms.

Lake Jackson also serves an important role as a very popular recreational site in Leon County. At its full capacity, the lake covers 4,000 acres. Local residents enjoy fishing, boating, water skiing, sailing, tubing, bird watching, canoeing, and kayaking on Lake Jackson. However, stormwater often delivers trash to the lake each year, which can make it less enjoyable and can harm the ecosystem. This clean-up event provides an opportunity to educate the community on how trash pollution can be prevented in the future.

Registration for the clean-up begins at 9 a.m., followed by a safety briefing before volunteers hit the water. The clean-up will last until noon, followed by lunch at the Rhoden Cove Landing. During lunch, prizes will be given out for the strangest, largest, and oldest items found in the lake!

If you’re a beginner who would like some guidance and a canoe or kayak to use, Leon County staff will be at Rhoden Cove Landing to assist you. If you are an experienced paddler with your own vessel, feel free to join our partners Tall Timbers at Fuller Road Landing or Friends of Lake Jackson at Crowder Landing. Children 12 and under are welcome and should be accompanied by an adult in a canoe or kayak.

Spaces are limited, so sign up to volunteer today! For more information and to register for the clean-up, visit www.GrowingGreen.org/CleanUp or contact the Leon County Office of Sustainability at Sustainability@LeonCountyFL.gov.

Annya Shalun is the Sustainability Programs Coordinator in Leon County’s Office of Sustainability. She can be contacted at ShalunA@leoncountyfl.gov. Leon County is a member of the Capital Area Sustainability Council, a forum organized by Sustainable Tallahassee; CASC brings you “Greening Our Community” articles. Learn more at www.SustainableTallahassee.org/CASC.