Lake Jackson Ecopassage - ProfilesArchive

About Me

ABOUT ME SECTIONLake Jackson is a 4000-acre sinkhole lake in northwestern Florida located 7 miles north of Tallahassee, FL in the Ochlockonee River basin. Lake Jackson is considered one of Leon County's most precious natural resources and is designated as an Aquatic Preserve by the State of Florida. The water level of Lake Jackson fluctuates widely and is controlled naturally by rainfall (variation in surface water run-off into the lake) and by two primary sinkholes (Porter Hole and Lime Sink). During drought conditions, a lowering of the water table causes leakage into the groundwater through the sinkholes and most of the lake bottom dries, an event that occurred 11 times in the last 100 years (1907, 1909, 1932, 1935, 1936, 1957, 1982, 1999, 2002, 2003, 2006), drying on average every 9 years.
US Highway 27 is a four-lane highway that was built directly across a 3/4-mile portion of northwest Lake Jackson, isolating part of the lake to the west now known as Little Lake Jackson. US Highway 27 is a virtually impassable barrier to turtles and other wildlife with 23,500 vehicles traveling along it each day.
***The road mortality and attempted crossings, especially of turtles, is higher than has been documented anywhere else in the world!.***
We have documented over 11,267 (as of 06 December 2006) animals of 61 different species (not including birds) attempting to cross the half-mile section of US Highway 27 at Lake Jackson in the last 7 years. Clearly, a permanent solution to this significant wildlife mortality problem is needed.
During the recent drought in North Florida, Lake Jackson dried completely causing a mass exodus of thousands of animals that attempted to migrate to Little Lake Jackson directly across US Highway 27. Between February and April 2000, the highway was monitored every 1-2 days for dead and live turtles. 439 turtles were killed on US Highway 27 during the 40 days prior to fence construction.
In order to prevent massive road mortality of the entire population of migrating turtles, we constructed a temporary fence using silt fence material that directs turtles into a culvert under the road. A 3,600 foot fence along US Highway 27 North was completed on 3 April 2000 and has been monitored 2-4 times per day since construction. A 2,600 foot fence was then constructed along US Highway 27 South to intercept turtles that attempted to migrate across the road when Lake Jackson refilled. Turtles were hand-collected as they moved along the fences, measured, transported by hand across the highway, and released into the water. Over 8,800 turtles and hundreds of other reptiles and amphibians were saved from death on the highway by these fences.
Our goal is to work with Leon County, the Florida Department of Transportation, and other agencies to construct a permanent ecopassage to prevent future mortality of turtles and other wildlife. The Florida Department of Transportation and other agencies are in full support of this project. However, it is Leon County that is managing the preliminary phase of the project development and environmental assessment of the proposed project. Public support is an important part of convincing Leon County to make this a priority item so that a timely resolution can be reached. We have already received letters of support for this project from many organizations and government agencies such as the National Audubon Society, the Humane Society of the United States, and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. In addition, hundreds of other letters from concerned citizens are pouring in from all over the world. But, many more letters are needed! Letters of support from the public, whether you live in Florida or not, are especially critical to our effort!
Remains of 90 road-killed turtles found along a 1/3 mile stretch of US Highway 27 at Lake Jackson in one day in February 2000, prior to construction of temporary fence.
Turtles being diverted by the temporary fence into a culvert under the road. This fence design effectively prevented thousands of turtles and other wildlife from death on the highway in the last few years.
The goal is a permanent guidewall and culvert system similar to this one recently constructed at Paynes Prairie on US Highway 441 south of Gainesville, Florida.
The World's Top Five Turtle Road Mortality Chart
For more visual reverences and information please "view my pics"
What can you do to help?
You can help show your support in 3 ways!
#1 Write a letter of support
#2 Join the Lake Jackson Ecopassage
#3 Make a tax-deductible donation
If you would like to learn more about how you can help, please visit the main site
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON ECOPASSAGES AND OTHER TRANSPORTATION-RELATED WILDLIFE PROGRAMS, PLEASE VISITwww.ecopassage.org

My Interests

Getting the ecopassage built, so that it saves the lives of countless turtles, and other creatures crossing the busy Hwy, and the drivers who could be harmed from the debris!

Why should we care if thousands of turtles and other wildlife from Lake Jackson are killed by vehicles each year? Turtles are an important part of the lake ecosystem. Most turtles feed on dead and decaying matter in the lake. So, turtles essentially "clean" the lake. Our research has shown that turtles also eat many aquatic plants. Most notably, turtles feed heavily on the introduced aquatic menace, Hydrilla. By cleaning the water and eating the vegetation that "chokes out" the lake, turtles provide necessary habitat for fish (especially bass) and increase recreational opportunities for people. Without turtles the general ecosystem functioning would falter. Turtles and other wildlife are an integral part of Lake Jackson's ecosystem and should be protected in standing with Lake Jackson's designation as Florida's only lake Aquatic Preserve. This ecosystem was designated in 1974 as the Lake Jackson Aquatic Preserve "for the primary purpose of preserving and maintaining the biological resources in their essentially natural condition."

Why should motorists care that wildlife is kept off the highway? Wildlife trespass on to the highway represents a major threat to motorist safety. Many adult turtles weigh at least 5 to 10 pounds and are essentially "rocks in the roadway". When turtles are hit they can act as dangerous projectiles, causing serious damage to vehicles and injury to occupants. A recent auto accident in Indian River County, Florida, involved a large turtle that was hit by a car and then crashed through another car's windshield. We have witnessed many near-misses where vehicles have stopped to help turtles or have attempted to veer around turtles in the roadway. On one occasion we observed a 3-car crash when a vehicle stopped to move a softshell turtle. Peak migration days can result in hundreds of turtles trespassing on to the highway. At night, a time when visibility is at its poorest, alligators often travel on to the roadway. We have documented an accident where a vehicle collided with a 7 foot alligator that was moving across the highway. Without a proper guidewall to keep turtles and other wildlife off of the highway, there is serious potential for vehicle accidents on a stretch of highway with 23,500 vehicles per day.

Does the temporary fence stop all wildlife from entering the roadway? No. Species such as frogs, snapping turtles, large softshell turtles, alligators, snakes, and most mammals can climb over this low fence. The fence only covers 2000'- 3000' of the "killing zone". Areas where roads enter the highway are also dangerous avenues for turtles to travel on to the highway.

Is the temporary fence a long-term solution? No. Despite the 8,800 turtles that have been saved, the fence we constructed is only a temporary short-term solution to this wildlife mortality problem. It is degrading rapidly to the point where it will soon be ineffective. The temporary fence must be maintained daily to ensure its effectiveness. The fence is often compromised by animals chewing it, small mammals that dig under it, highway maintenance equipment that cuts into it, trees that fall on to it, erosion, and vandals that destroy it. Thus a permanent ecopassage (guide wall and culvert system) is needed to replace the temporary fence so that this continuing wildlife mortality problem can be stopped..

I'd like to meet:

People who care about animals, driver safety, and anyone who would like to support The Lake Jackson Ecopassage, and will help spread the word!

If you would like to get your own goodsearch banner, CLICK HERE

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Heroes:

Florida Department of Transportation
Defenders of Wildlife
The Humane Society of the United States
Matthew J. Aresco, PhD
NATIVE NURSERIES
Turtle and Tortoise Club of Florida
Jacksonville Herpetological society
World Chelonian Trust
The Jelks Family Foundation Inc
California Turtle & Tortoise Club
Teddy Bear Corner
Annie's Homegrown
Jody's Jungle(Against animal cruelty
And the MANY individuals who have made selfless donations!
Important Information Links
Lake Jackson Ecopassage Alliance
Ability of Turtles To Climb Fence
Motor Vehicle Accidents Involving Turtles
Effect of US 27 Vehicular Traffic on Turtle Mortality
Lake Jackson Aquatic Preserve Roadkill Fact Sheet
Roadway Hazards to Turtles
Reptiles and Amphibians Rescued by the Temporary Fences
Fence Degradation and Maintenance
Lake Jackson Drydown Water Data (1999-2005)
Lake Jackson Ecopassage Alliance Press Release - July 21, 2003
ASPCA article
Boston Globe article
Lake Jackson Ecopassage Brochure
Lake Jackson Ecopassage Flier
Sample Letter for individuals
Sample Letter for organizations
Spanish Version of Web Page

My Blog

Please Help!!!

The Ecopassage can use all the funds they can get. And we certainly understand, with today's economy and gas prices, that its sometimes hard to spare a few dollars. That's why, you can do all of your ...
Posted by Lake Jackson Ecopassage on Tue, 05 Aug 2008 05:15:00 PST