Page 8 - Talk of Tequesta - December '19

Page 8, The Talk Of Tequesta

northern notes

Aquatic Plants

By Katie Roundtree, Finance Director, Northern Palm Beach County Improvement District

Northern Palm Beach edge, with their leaves and stems exposed. They can grow provide a stable surface for successful fish spawning.
County Improvement from the water’s edge to about three to 10 feet from the Some advantages of free floating or floating-leaved
District manages over shore. This area is typically called the littoral zone and plants include providing bank stabilization to reduce
2,000 acres of preserves and may be composed of a shoreline or wetlands. In our area, shoreline erosion and maintaining habitat for fish and
approximately 370 water some of these areas were man-made to attract wildlife wildlife. However, if periods of low water are followed
bodies in its 128-square to the littoral zone in order to compensate for recently by a rapid rise in water level, the roots of dead floating-
-mile jurisdiction. Each of developed areas. In periods of low water, debris from leaved plants can float to the surface, block access, and
these areas is unique and has dying immersed plants is a significant factor. Accumulated hinder navigation. Nonnative water hyacinth and water
different kinds of aquatic plant debris can eventually result in the lake becoming lettuce may completely cover the surface of a water body
plants growing within it shallower, or even transitioning into a swamp or marsh. and cause major problems for fish and wildlife habitat,
depending on factors such Some advantages of immersed plants include providing recreation, navigation, and flood control. Floating and
as depth, size and location. bank stabilization to reduce shoreline erosion, maintaining floating-leaved plants are not generally considered a
Aquatic plants that can be seen with the naked eye are habitat for fish and wildlife and providing food (seeds and human health concern, but they provide breeding habitat
generally called aquatic macrophytes, to differentiate them leaves) for birds. for mosquitoes. (Source: University of Florida IFAS)
from the much smaller plants called algae. Aquatic plants Finally, free floating plants are not anchored to any NPDES Tip: Please pick up after your pet. When pet
are further classified into three categories depending upon soil or sediment; they get their nutrients from the water waste is washed into lakes or canals, the waste decays,
where they grow. alone. Floating-leaved plants typically are rooted in using up oxygen and sometimes releasing ammonia.
Aquatic plants can be submersed, meaning that the sediments and have leaves that float on the water’s Low oxygen levels and ammonia combined with warm
they grow under the water, either rooted to the bottom surface. Native water lilies and duckweed are examples temperatures can kill fish. Pet waste also contains
sediments or free floating. They come in all shapes of these kinds of plants. Floating and floating-leaved nutrients that encourage weed and algae growth. Overly
and sizes and occur in virtually all local water bodies. plants occur in many Florida water bodies. Rooted fertile water becomes cloudy and green – unattractive for
Environmental factors such as light, water clarity, floating-leaved plants can grow completely across boating and fishing. Perhaps most importantly, pet waste
temperature, pH, nutrient availability and sediment shallow water bodies. The roots of floating-leaved plants carries diseases which make water unsafe.
stability affect where submersed plants will grow. These
plants are professionally managed and, as with many
native and nonnative plant populations, can grow to
nuisance levels if not maintained properly. Excess nutrient
levels from fertilizers and yard waste can further increase
the growth of these plants to a nuisance level. Some
advantages of submersed plants are to provide habitats
for fish and wildlife, increase water clarity, filter nutrients
and increase or decrease dissolved oxygen levels.
Immersed plants are plants that are rooted in water-
saturated soils or submersed sediment near the water’s

Pet Matters

by Pat Deshong, President of Furry Friends
Adoption, Clinic & Ranch

"For the Love of Animals" features
real stories happening at Furry Friends
in Jupiter. We are The Humane Society
of Greater Jupiter/Tequesta and the
only no-kill shelter open to the public
in northern Palm Beach County. We’ve
been rescuing, rehabilitating, and re-
homing the homeless animals in our When considering adding a furry family member to your
community for more than 30 years. family, please visit our Palm City Ranch at 4841 S.W. Zarrella
Our not for profit 501c3 organization Street. All of our adoptable dogs and cats are now at our ranch
consists of our Jupiter based Adoption but by the time you are reading this article, we may very well have
Center, Veterinary Clinic (open to the public), Thrift Boutique, furry residents in our new Jupiter home at 100 Capital Street in
and Palm City Ranch. the Jupiter Commerce Park! Call us at 561-747-5311 ext. 2 for
information!
Blessings to you for your support and faith in us… all for the
First came JP, an elderly hound mix who had lived at Furry LOVE of animals!
Friends for many years. Annie fostered JP for the last 5 months
of his life, giving him daily beach time, his favorite foods, and
boatloads of snuggles. Then entered Stanley, a young pup born Patricia Deshong, President
with pancreatic issues that needed extra TLC. While in her foster Progress with our new
care, Stanley wormed his way into Annie’s heart and became her building. Please help
Furry Friends “foster failure.” us get to the finish line
Next was Comet, a puppy born with severe congenital issues. by donating today!
Annie did what many people would not do, tending daily to his Our clinic is now
chronic skin condition & open sores. She cradled him as he took open at 100 Capital
his last breaths, whispering in his ear that life across the Rainbow Street. Our Adoption
Bridge would be very different from what he had endured on earth. Center will be finished
Without missing a beat, Annie immediately stepped up to foster soon!!
Charlie, a small terrier mix who had been hit by a car and whose Our new home! If you would like to be a part of our new
owners had paid for his surgery. Sadly, he did not receive the beginning, please contact us. Like each nail, block, & tile, every
physical therapy he needed post surgery and he was surrendered donation, no matter how small, will help make our dream come
to Furry Friends, unable to walk. With Annie’s patience, Charlie true… All for the Love of Animals.
has made tremendous improvement. Annie says, “Charlie LOVES Please visit www.furryfriendsadoption.org or call
his wheels and is as fast as lightning.” With brother Stanley 561.747.5311 ext. 1 for more information. Ask for Pat Deshong,
and mother Annie, Charlie conquers the world with swimming President, or Curry Krasulak, Director of Development.
lessons, beach walks and meeting new furry friends. He’s quite
the outgoing pup who can now walk unassisted! This is what Furry Friends is all about…rescuing, rehabilitating,
Fosters like Annie are critical to Furry Friends. And our and giving homeless companion animals their best future… no
organization is blessed to have so many who heed the call to help matter how long it takes to find it. We invite you to come visit us!
those having the greatest need. There’s Wendy who has been Our website is www.furryfriendsadoption.org.
Furry Friends depends on the generous support from donors
fostering the tiniest of kittens for more than two years. She has like you. Without Furry Friends, the future of the many animals
never shied away from a challenge, be it ringworm, mange, or we save would be uncertain. Thank you for donating and helping
other conditions even more serious or contagious. Sleep? Many us continue our animal saving mission.
of our kitten fosters do not get it as they work around the clock to Ways to donate (tax ID #59-2111273):
care for their young charges. 1. Mail a check made payable to Furry Friends to 100 Capital
Furry Friends salutes our many fosters! We cannot do what Street, Jupiter, FL 33458.
we do without them! We challenge you to join their ranks and 2. Visit www.furryfriendsadoption.org
discover just how rewarding it can be to save a life. To learn how 3. Call us with your credit card information at 561.747.5311 ext. 3
you can foster, please visit www.furryfriendsadoption.org. “Your donation creates the possibilities to make miracles
happen for our Furry Friends”
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