Lake Jackson (Tallahassee, Florida)
| Lake Jackson | |
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| File:LkJacksonFLSep2005.jpg
Lake Jackson, September 2005, with storm approaching. Note flying ducks.
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| File:Lake Jackson TLH Florida.gif
Map
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| Location | Leon County, Florida |
| Coordinates | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. |
| Type | prairie lake |
| Primary outflows | sinkholes |
| Catchment area | 42.1 square miles (109 km2) |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Max. length | 8 miles (13 km) |
| Surface area | 6.2 square miles (16 km2) |
| Surface elevation | max. 96.2 feet (29.3 m) |
Lake Jackson is a shallow, prairie lake on the north side of Tallahassee in Leon County, Florida, United States, with two major depressions or sinkholes known as Porter Sink and Lime Sink.
The lake is located in the Red Hills Region, and has fluctuated from periods of being dry to a maximum elevation of 96 feet (29 m) above sea level. The lake is approximately 7.5 miles (12 km) long and its area is 6.2 square miles (16 km2). There is no outflow from streams or runoff.
Contents
Geography
Interstate 10 runs across the southern tip of the lake, and US 27 runs along a causeway on the western side, separating Little Lake Jackson from the main lake.
There are several boat ramps providing access to the lake. On the west side, these are at Crowder Road and Faulk Drive, at a small park on US 27, and on Sunset Drive. Ramps on the east side of the lake are at Millers Landing Road and Rhoden Cove Landing.
The Lake Jackson Mounds Archaeological State Park is located adjacent to the lake.
Geology
Karst
Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
Drainage
Water drains from the lake into the Floridan Aquifer through the sinkholes. These are usually partially or completely plugged with sediments, but collapse when groundwater levels drop[citation needed], allowing lake water to funnel into the aquifer, which can completely drain the lake. The lake drained on September 16, 1999.[1] On May 10, 2007, the lake flowed down the Porter Sink, but pools of water still remained.[2]
Ecology
Fauna
Species found at Lake Jackson and the surrounding watershed are the snowy egret, little blue heron, wood stork, bald eagle, least tern, American alligator and round-tailed muskrat. Brown pelicans, rare inland, have also been found on occasion.
Flora
Submerged vegetation is abundant throughout the lake and include blue hyssop, coontail, green fanwort, variable-leaf milfoil, and bladderwort. Marsh plants include maidencane, pickerelweed, American lotus, and slender spikerush. Numerous wetland tree and woody plant species also inhabit the drier portions of the transitional marsh. These include sweetgum, a variety of oaks, wax myrtle, and elderberry.
References
- ↑ DRAM, Florida Geological Survey-Lake Jackson
- ↑ Tallahassee Democrat - www.tallahassee.com - Tallahassee, FL
External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Lake Jackson (Tallahassee, Florida). |
- 1940 map of Lake Jackson & community
- Lake Jackson Aquatic Preserve
- Ochlockonee River Watershed and Lake Jackson Protection - Florida DEP
- Lake Jackson Ecopassage
- Land & Water Magazine: Restoring a Disappearing Lake
- Lake Jackson Mounds Archaeological Park
- Friends of Lake Jackson
- Video of Lake Jackson Drydown, December, 2002 (NWFWMD)
