Across the county, entire neighborhoods are signing up for the program, with four communities scheduled for initial clean-ups in July. The pond effort is a partnership between county staff and residents. First, county staff uses heavy equipment to clean up the accumulated muck and non-native plants that dominate unmaintained ponds. Then residents move in to fine-tune the effort, pulling weeds by hand and raking up remaining trash. The next phase calls for planting native plants that filter stormwater before it enters the pond and also provide food and shelter to native wildlife.
Wildlife needs diversity and planting natives is an important way to preserve our natural heritage.
Hillsborough County provides the plants and waterscaping plans that include up to 13 native species featuring colorful blooms in every season. Still, maintaining an attractive pond environment requires cooperation from the entire community, not just people who actually live near the pond, Palaschak said. High levels of nutrients from fertilizers, septic tanks and animal wastes are a particular concern in community ponds as well as natural marine environments. Nutrients fuel the growth of non-native species that choke out native species and boost algae levels. High levels of algae deplete oxygen levels, killing fish and underwater habitat.