Lake Jackson Aquatic Preserve

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Clastic upland lakes are generally characterized as shallow to relatively deep, irregular-shaped depressions or basins occurring in uplands. They have surface inflows but are often without significant outflows. Water is generally dissipated through evaporation and transpiration, but it may also disappear through sinks that connect with the aquifer, especially during prolonged droughts.

The karst topography of North Florida produces numerous sinkholes from the dissolution of the underlying limestone. Lake Jackson has small to medium sinkholes scattered across the bottom. The lake's natural dry down and refill cycles are determined by the activity of these sinks and the amount of rainfall in the area. The sinkholes are important to the lake's ecosystem because natural periodic draining creates a cleansing effect for the lake, reducing invasive aquatic vegetation and exposing organic sediments that eventually decompose, revealing sand bottom habitat.

Wet prairies are communities of non-woody vegetation found on continuously wet but not inundated soils on flat gentle slopes. They are dominated by a mixture of grasses and sedges in the wetter portions. Wet prairies in North Florida are some of the most diverse communities in the U.S. with an average of more than 20 species per square meter. These communities are very sensitive to alterations to the soil surface that can alter the hydrology. Wet prairies are prevalent in the northern section of Lake Jackson near the "cattle gap."

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The fluctuating water levels within the aquatic preserve prevent the domination of any one invasive species but also create enough disturbance for some infestations to thrive. The lake's main threats are from hydrilla, water hyacinth, Cuban bulrush and Chinese tallowtree. Management is achieved by working closely with FWC’s Invasive Plant Management Section to mitigate their populations in both aquatic and riparian zones. Hydrilla is managed by herbicide treatment and sterile grass carp stocking.

Natural dry down events also knock back hydrilla populations in shallow areas, but infestations usually remain in the lake's deeper sections. Waterfowl also use hydrilla as a food source in winter. Other aquatic exotics are treated with appropriate types and amounts of herbicide. Chinese tallowtree infests lake buffer - or riparian - areas and is resilient to varying water levels once established. Intensive management of this exotic tree was initiated in 2020-21, targeting dense stands of mature trees with selective herbicide application. Long-term goals include replacing tallowtree areas with native tree canopy for increased nesting and foraging habitat for wading bird species.

The exotic island apple snail - originally from South America and a favorite food of the limpkin - is present in the lake and its population varies with lake levels. The snail’s impact on the native communities is currently unknown. Future monitoring and research projects are being considered to learn more about the snail’s population status in the aquatic preserve and potential management options.

Outreach Programs

Lake Jackson Aquatic Preserve staff coordinate all management and outreach with help from partners, including the city of Tallahassee, Leon County, FWC, Northwest Florida Water Management District, Friends of Lake Jackson, regional universities, lake landowners and volunteers. Aquatic preserve programming includes a seminar series and lake cleanups, attending local festivals and schools, landowner initiatives (such as the Adopt-A-Buffer Program, 2020) and land management guides, and providing lake-conservation information on kiosks, brochures and signage.

The public can participate in a citizen science monitoring project by submitting photos at two Chronolog stations featured on the lake at Jackson View and Sunset landings.

• View time-lapse photos of lake level, vegetation, wildlife and recreation contributed by the public.