- Lake Jackson (Tallahassee, Florida)
Infobox lake
lake_name = Lake Jackson
image_lake =
caption_lake =
image_bathymetry = Lake_Jackson_TLH_Florida.gif
caption_bathymetry = Map
location =Leon County, Florida
coords =
type =prairie lake
inflow =
outflow = "sinkhole s"
catchment = 42.1 mi² (109.0 km²)
basin_countries = United States
length = 8 mi (13 km)
width =
area = 6.2 mi² (16.1 km²)
depth =
max-depth =
volume =
residence_time =
shore =
elevation = max. 96.16 ft (29.31 m)
islands =
cities =Lake Jackson is a shallow, prairie lake on the north side of Tallahassee in
Leon County, Florida with two major depressions orsinkhole s 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 29 meters (96 ft) above sea level. The lake is approximately 12 kilometers long and its area is 16 km², with a drainage basin of roughly 11 km². There is no outflow from streams or runoff.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 Drive 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.Lake drained
Water drains from the lake into the
Floridan Aquifer through the sinkholes. These are usually partially or completely plugged with sediments, but collapse whengroundwater levels drop, allowing lake water to funnel into the aquifer, which can virtually completely drain the lake. This usually happens every 25 years. The last time it drained wasSeptember 16 1999 [ [http://www.dep.state.fl.us/geology/geologictopics/jacksonsink.htm DRAM, Florida Geological Survey-Lake Jackson ] ] . OnMay 10 2007 , the lake flowed down the Porter Sink, but pools of water still remained [ [http://www.tallahassee.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2007705110331 Tallahassee Democrat - www.tallahassee.com - Tallahassee, FL ] ] .Animal life
Endangered Species and/or rare species found at Lake Jackson and the surrounding watershed are thesnowy egret ,little blue heron ,wood stork ,bald eagle ,least tern ,American alligator and round-tailed muskrat.Brown pelican s, rare inland, have also been found on occasion.Vegetation
Submerged vegetation is abundant throughout the lake and include blue
hyssop , coontail, greenfanwort , variable-leaf milfoil, andbladderwort . Marsh plants includemaidencane ,pickerelweed , American lotus, and slenderspikerush . Numerous wetland tree and woody plant species also inhabit the drier portions of the transitional marsh. These includesweetgum , a variety ofoak s,wax myrtle , andelderberry .References
External links
* [http://fcit.usf.edu/FLORIDA/maps/local/leon/leon/Lake_Jackson.htm 1940 map of Lake Jackson & community]
* [http://www.dep.state.fl.us/coastal/sites/lakejackson/info.htm Lake Jackson Aquatic Preserve]
* [http://www.lakejacksonturtles.org/ Lake Jackson Ecopassage]
* [http://www.landandwater.com/features/vol46no5/vol46no5_1.html Land & Water Magazine: Restoring a Disappearing Lake]
* [http://www.floridastateparks.org/lakejacksonmounds/default.cfm Lake Jackson Mounds Archaeological Park]
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