Natural Resources

Residential Lake Planting Program

There are many lakes, or stormwater ponds, within the City limits which were built to address stormwater runoff - both to prevent flooding and to let pollutants settle out before the runoff enters the bay. Many of these lakes are in residential areas and are not managed by the City. The lakes are 40-50 years old with little or no maintenance being performed on them. This lack of maintenance lessens their ability to treat stormwater effectively, and planting vegetation is something all residents can do to help increase the ability of these lakes to "clean" the water.

The City of Naples has initiated a Residential Lake Planting Program where residents can apply to the Natural Resources Division for a "micro" grant of up to $500 worth of aquatic vegetation to plant in a residential lake. City staff will order the plants for the resident, and the homeowner will be responsible for planting the vegetation in the lake.

Please click on the FAQ link below for further explanation. You can download the application below and follow the directions on the form for submission.

• FAQ for Planting
• Residential Plant Application (PDF Format)
• Residential Plant Application (Word Format)

Naples Bay

Naples Bay is a relatively narrow and shallow estuary ranging in width from 100 to 1500 feet, and in depth from 1 to 25 feet. The Bay once drained about 20 square miles, but it is now the receiving body from approximately 120 square miles due to the construction of the Golden Gate Canal system. The historic watershed was predominately comprised of areas of swamps, marshes and sloughs that recharged the aquifer and supported native plants and animals. This gradually changed from those natural conditions, to agriculture, and then to urban land uses. Natural water inlets like the Gordon River, Rock Creek, and Haldeman Creek have been altered by urban infrastructure that has changed the historic flowways to the Bay and impacted its water and biology.

Naples Bay and the Gordon River are on the US Environmental Protection Agency's list of impaired waters due to low dissolved oxygen and the presence of nutrients and coliform bacteria above legislated levels. The Clean Water Act (CWA) requires states to identify impaired waters (those that do not achieve their intended purposes - like being fishable and swimmable) every two years. Section 303(d) of the CWA requires that a Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) be determined for these waters. The TMDL is the amount of a pollutant, in pounds or gallons or a similar measure, that a water body can accept before going over water quality standards. Naples Bay is due to be assessed for TMDLs in 2007.

The Bay has two major problems contributing to its pollutant load:

1. Freshwater from the Golden Gate Canal.
2. Stormwater runoff from yards, streets, parking lots, and the rest of the built environment.

With the growing need for freshwater, governments are now beginning to talk about using the freshwater in the Golden Gate Canal. While that will eliminate one problem, it will also reduce the current flushing effect that water has on the pollutants in the Bay. Thus, the concentrations of pollutants may increase.

Health of Naples Bay Video

To view a video on the Health of Naples Bay Click Here. This video is courtesy of the Naples Daily News.

Water Quality

We need to determine what pollutants are present and what their levels are in order to determine how to improve water quality. We need to measure the scope of our problems. This means we have to take regular water samples in different locations over a sustained period of time. Ultimately, we need to determine if the actions we are taking result in improvements to water quality.

Sampling will help us:

• Establish a baseline
• Determine the size of the problem
• Establish a means of improving water quality

• Where we are now, in order to determine...
• Where we want to go, and figure out...
• How to get there.

Collier County is sampling 8 locations north of the Gordon River Bridge. The City of Naples, Natural Resources Division, is currently sampling 16 sites throughout the Gordon River and Naples Bay. Eight sites are sampled and rotated every month so that all 16 sites are sampled within a 2 month period.

Current City of Naples Sampling Locations in the Gordon River and Naples Bay

Stormwater Runoff

Naples, as all cities, has stormwater runoff that contributes pollution to natural water bodies. Pesticides, fertilizers, metals, bacteria, and other materials wash off the land and enter the water from lawns, golf courses, streets, parking lots and other impervious surfaces.

The City has 28 stormwater retention lakes and ponds, some of them more than 50 years old. While they still hold back water, they no longer have the capacity to filter pollutants. They create bacteria and algae problems that exacerbate pollution and decrease dissolved oxygen. Delivery systems from these lakes go either directly into the Gulf or into Naples Bay and then into the Gulf. The City needs to redesign its stormwater system, clean up the lakes, and filter the water through either filter marshes or other structures prior to its entry into our two natural water bodies. This will require a significant capital expenditure.

Restoration Projects

OYSTER REEFS are highly productive and diverse ecosystems that also provide a foundation for Naples Bay's food chain and support species important to commercial and sport fisheries. They are also sentinels for ecosystem health and are a good measure of restoration effectiveness. However, these reefs are sensitive to extremes in salinity and sedimentation. In Naples Bay, oysters have also suffered from stormwater runoff and dredging.

Florida Gulf Coast University has successfully established new oyster reefs in the Caloosahatchee Estuary, Estero Bay, and Rookery Bay. The University proposed a similar project for Naples Bay, and the South Florida Water Management District provided funding to establish and augment oyster reef development in bay locations.

The reefs were built on September 17, 2005 with the help of some 40 community volunteers.

SPRING LAKE is located just to the south of Fifth Avenue South. Plans to create a water garden at the north and south ends were implemented and over 700 wetland plants were planted in the littoral zone and along the shore with the help of community volunteers. Four species were planted: Spartina bakeri (cordgrass), Golden Canna, Swamp-lily, and Pickerelweed. A big thanks to Earthbalance for the donation of plants and to the following partners:

Three of the four species are flowering plants and all four are good for any homeowner to plant who lives adjacent to a stormwater pond or lake. Click on the link below to access "A Citizen's Guide to Stormwater Ponds."

www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/publications/files/stormwaterponds.pdf

Having plants in and around stormwater ponds creates a buffer between the water and the runoff entering the pond from roofs, streets, lawns, etc. Plants can more effectively filter runoff and can uptake and trap nutrients before the water runs into Naples Bay. This uptake of nutrients can also help reduce algal growth which is common in stormwater ponds and is exacerbated by increased nutrients entering the water. Plantings can also attract wildlife-Ibises, Gallinules, Great Egrets, and Anhingas have all been observed in Spring Lake since the completion of the planting project.

At the north end of the lake, where a large culvert introduces stormwater runoff into the lake, the City plans to build a small park featuring a deck where people will be able to sit and observe the wildlife. At the south end, a 100-foot long canal leads to a retention pond through a culvert under East Lake Drive and then connects with the City's stormwater system, emptying the water from the lake into Naples Bay. The City will also be replacing the culvert at the south end of the lake to get the system flowing again.

Landscape Certification Program Best Management Practices for Reducing Pollution and Conserving Water

Stormwater runoff is a major source of pollution for the waters of Naples Bay and the Gulf of Mexico. In order to improve the water quality of Naples Bay and restore its estuarine ecosystem, the amount and kinds of pollution flowing into the bay as stormwater must be reduced. There is also a need to develop a stronger knowledge of the connection between the yard, the street, stormwater, and natural water bodies among all those who live and work in Naples.

The City of Naples recognizes the importance of water resources to sustaining the economic, environmental and human health of our community. To ensure adequate protection the City requires all lawn and landscape companies working within City Limits to have at lease one supervisor and 10% of staff certified in the Best Management Practices (BMPs) for the protection of water resources in Florida.

The City has partnered with Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve to provide this educational training to local landscape businesses in order to meet City certification requirements. This partnership not only provides training, outreach and information sharing opportunities to local landscape-related companies to meet City certification requirements, but it also supports business needs throughout Collier County.

The complete booklet can be found online at http://www.dep.state.fl.us/water/nonpoint/docs/nonpoint/BMP_Book_final.pdf

Other Documents:

• BMP Class Registration Form
• BMP Greenscape Class Schedule
• Landscape Certification Application
• Landscape Certification Frequently Asked Questions
• City of Naples, Resolution 06-11245
• Coastal Training Website

LINKS

City of Naples Exotic Plant Ordinance:
http://cs.naplesgov.com/documents/Invasive_and_Exotic_Plants.pdf

City of Naples Irrigation Ordinance:
http://www.naplesgov.com/publicworks/utilities/reports/Irrigation_Restriction_Ordinance.pdf

For homeowners interested in learning "Florida-Friendly" landscaping techniques, click on the following links:
http://www.dep.state.fl.us/water/nonpoint/docs/nonpoint/BMP_Book_final.pdf (Best Management Practices)
http://www.floridayards.org/
http://www.dep.state.fl.us/water/nonpoint/docs/nonpoint/fyn_handbook.pdf
In Spanish:
http://www.dep.state.fl.us/water/nonpoint/docs/nonpoint/SpanishBMPbook08-04.pdf

For what NOT to plant, ie: exotic invasive plants:
http://www.fleppc.org/list/05List.htm
http://www.fleppc.org/
http://www.floridagardening.org/invasive.asp
http://www.colliergov.net/environmental/programs/invasive_exotic_species/index.htm

Native plant nurseries:
http://miami-dade.ifas.ufl.edu/programs/fyn/publications/PDF/Native-Nurseries-in-South-Florida.PDF

For suggestions on what to plant:
http://hort.ufl.edu/fyn/list.pdf
http://www.colliergov.net/zoning/documents/PlantList.pdf

To look up a plant species by common or scientific name:
http://www.plantatlas.usf.edu/

For information on mangroves:
http://www.dep.state.fl.us/water/wetlands/mangroves/mangrove.htm

What YOU can do to protect and enhance the water quality and habitat in Naples Bay

• Plant mangroves-they are essential habitat for fish, oysters, etc. and also help with shoreline stabilization.
• Learn "Florida-Friendly" landscaping techniques
• Use rip rap instead of a seawall to protect your shoreline. If you already have a seawall, install rip rap to help create habitat. Rip rap also dissipates wave energy more effectively and will prolong the life of your seawall.
• Pick up after your pets-pet waste can greatly contribute to the nutrients that run into the Bay!
• If you live on the waterfront, plant shrubs that do not require fertilization in front of your seawall to create a buffer/filter for stormwater runoff before it enters the bay.
• Know how much fertilizer your landscape company puts on your lawn. See the link for "Best Management Practices" to know how much should be used.
• Use the following guide to implement some extremely useful practices that can help the Bay. Waterfront Property Owners Guide: http://www.dep.state.fl.us/water/nonpoint/docs/nonpoint/wpog.pdf

GORDON RIVER WATER QUALITY PARK - The South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) is providing funding to Collier County to help in the construction of the Gordon River Water Quality Park. The park will be located on 50 acres at the northeast corner of Goodlette Frank Road and the Golden Gate Parkway. Water flow will be directed from golf courses, residential areas, and streets to holding ponds and constructed wetlands which will act as natural filter marshes. The goal is to improve water quality as it passes through the ponds and wetlands, before reaching the Gordon River and Naples Bay.

The concept behind the water quality park is very simple. Native vegetation is used to slow down the water and cause some pollutants to drop out of circulation. Also, nutrients and other pollutants are taken up by some of the plants as the water moves by. In the Everglades restoration process, large stormwater treatment areas are being used to do just this; water goes into the filter marshes with high Phosphorus levels and comes out with low ones.

Beaches and Inlets

A beach renourishment project was completed by Collier County and the City of Naples along much of the beach between Wiggins Pass and Gordon Pass. The project extended the width of the upland beach area by collecting beach-compatible sand from offshore areas and placing it along the shoreline. The project was designed to provide additional storm protection for beachfront properties as well as to enhance the recreational and aesthetic characteristics of the beach.

Moorings Bay

Located at the north end of the City, Moorings Bay provides the only safe harbor along a 14-mile stretch of coastline. Culverts at the north end of the bay allow a limited exchange of water with the Clam Bay system. In 1960, the Moorings Bay Development Company began developing the bay -- dredging to create spoil for home sites, removing the mangrove fringe, and constructing seawalls along the perimeter of the bay. Over 1,000 boat owners now live in the Moorings Bay residential community. On the east side are single-family residences, while the west side has several high-rise condominiums. In 1982, the non-profit Save The Bays group formed to provide routine maintenance and to dredge the inlet and a system-wide channel that circumnavigates the bay. In 1988, the City of Naples established the Moorings Bay Special Taxing District, now the Moorings Bay Citizen Advisory Committee, to provide a continuous funding mechanism for dredging the inlet, for maintaining aids to navigation, and to provide management recommendations.

Once a small, natural inlet that periodically closed, Doctors Pass provides access to Moorings Bay. Stone jetties constructed in 1960, and a lighted buoy, mark the Bay's waterway connection to the Gulf of Mexico, providing thousands of boaters with access to the Gulf. However, the Pass shoals in at an annual rate of approximately 40,000 cubic yards per year, resulting in ongoing maintenance dredging. Beginning in 1985, the pass was dredged at almost two-year intervals with between 6,000 and 15,000 cubic yards of sand being removed. In 1996, 55,000 cubic yards were removed; in 2000, 40,000 cubic yards, and in 2002, another 9,000. The pass was again dredged in 2005 and 45,000 cubic yards of sand were removed.

Return to Local Resources