Nature & Ecology
  
New Bridge over Blairstone Lake spillway
  
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The name of our lake, "Blairstone Lake" was registered with the state of Florida on February 16th, 1993 when Carol Wintermute first learned of Florida Lake Watch and was trained with 2 other neighbors for the program. Each month they sample the lake at 3 stations marked by foam balls placed at certain coordinates. The frozen samples are then delivered to be tested by University of Florida labs. They send us periodic reports on the chemical health of our lake. We also get an annual comprehensive report that is given at the annual meeting, and management problems are reported to the Board anytime a problem arises.

Blairstone Lake has consistently been chemically healthy and continues to support the plants and animals around The Forest. The Lake Watch program will indicate any water quality changes in the area when it happens. Lake Watch is state wide, residents are conscientious about sampling, so that the data is very reliable. State agencies use this data in their studies of Tallahassee Wildlife. Not only has Lake Watch spread to most states in the U.S., but representatives of European countries have also come to Gainesville to learn to start the program in their countries.

Blairstone Forest Rain Fall Since January 1, 2010 11.2 inches
Blairstone Forest Rain Fall for the year 2009 57.4-inches

Local Doppler Weather Radar on loop -----------Best Tropical Weather Information

Click on this Tab to Find if this Body of Water in the Forest is a Lake or a Pond

Is Our Body of Water a Lake or a Pond?

Most (as I do) consider our body of water in Blairstone Forest a "Pond", but it is registered in the State of Florida's registry as a "Lake" (Blairstone Lake). We could all go around and around about the definition between a lake & a pond and we would all be technically right since there is no set standard to outline the difference. We could have the board change the name of our body of water to "Blairstone Pond" with the state registry if we wanted. As for me...I refer to it as a "Pond" unofficially and a "Lake" Officially because of the registry.

Regardless of what people think, there no difference between a lake and a pond other than who named it, according to the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services . They state "the use of the terms "lake" and "pond" was completely arbitrary. In general, lakes tend to be larger and/or deeper than ponds, but numerous examples exist of "ponds" that are larger and deeper than "lakes." For example, Echo "Lake" in Conway is 14 acres in surface area with a maximum depth of 11 feet, while Island "Pond" in Derry is nearly 500 acres and 80 feet deep." (Click here for more)

Here is a website that gives a definition for "Ponds" & "Lakes" that I like...A pond is always Man Made and a Lake occurs naturally. But this is still confusing, didn't our pond/lake occurred naturally, only being modified a little? It was the lowest part of the neighborhood before it was developed, and I am sure was filled when it rained, even if it was dry at other times.

So in closing... there is no standard official definition between what makes a lake...a lake, or a pond...a pond, and all the officials have their own opinion, so feel free to form your own oppinion and call it what you may. Either way, you will be right.
   
Click on This Tab for Florida Lake Watch Reports & Stats

Florida Lake Watch Reports & Stats
Read the Trophic State pdf first to help you understand the other two, the Lake summery explains the Report Data, where you will find that we haven't had any bad spikes since 1999. I suspect, this is about the time the ground water well was put in for lake fill and less Golf Course runoff was making it into our Lake. We are a little high but still within healthy parameters, in our case Aquatic Plants could bring down all of these levels completely.
2008
Trophic State: A Waterbody’s Ability To Support Plants, Fish, and Wildlife pdf 2008
Blairstone Lake Summery 2008 pdf Lake Watch Report Data 2008 pdf
2007
Trophic State: A Waterbody’s Ability To Support Plants, Fish, and Wildlife pdf 2007
Blairstone Lake Summery 2007 pdf Lake Watch Report Data 2007 pdf
Click on This Tab for Blairstone Forest Wildlife List with Links to Photos

Wildlife In and Around Blairstone Lake
Click on Blue links to open Photos
For those who see a bird, but don't know what it is, click on one of these links for Florida "Bird Identification" or "Ducks"I also found a GREAT site for Identifying Reptiles & Amphibians they have some incredible pictures
Forest Critters
In the Pond
 Birds
     
Click on This Tab to See The Tree & Shrub List

Trees & Shrubs
  • Black Mulberry
  • Wild Cherry
  • Willow
  • Cypress
  • Sweet Gum
  • Chinese Tallow
    an import that, like Cudzoo, can take over in a very short time. Please remove any in your yard, this is a Florida Department of Agriculture request.
  • Trillium
   
Click This Tab to See How the Lake Evolved

When The Lake was Born

As the Lake Evolved
   
Neighbors are encouraged to contribute to the neighborhood list and send in any of their wildlife photos that were taken within the neighborhood. All photos must be cropped and pre-sized to be no larger than 700 pixels wide, by 730 pixels high, otherwise they won't fit, and will take to long to load. If you need a photo editor to do this, please click on the link provided here to download Free Photo Editing Software.

Once you have the image sized properly, simply send your images to the Webmaster and we'll post them on this website for you with credits to contributor. Please no fancy effects or framing.

  
   

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