But one day, the water will refill this lake all over again and still be the greatest lake in the state of Florida for bass fishing.". Six years later, then-Governor Bob Martinez celebrated its return by going fishing. TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WCTV) - Lake Jackson, located in northern Tallahassee, is experiencing another dry down event. I walked to the edge, shielding my eyes against the bright summer sun to take in a Wood Stork probing the mud for prey, and nearly a dozen other vultures sitting on exposed earth, perhaps digesting bellies full of fish that hadnt made it when a hole opened in the limestone shelf and drained the lake. Perhaps we will never know! Archeologist Barbra Clark was touring the site, looking not for bodies, but for artifacts. But after two-and-a-half inches of new rain, birds were once again diving for fish and onlookers who came out to see the disappearing waters saw them reappearing instead. It may be weeks or months before the results of this dye trace are known. Click here to take a moment and familiarize yourself with our Community Guidelines. What should WTXL be covering in this community. The phenomenon is called a 'dry down' by environmentalists and happens every decade or two. Myth #4A: It would be better to encircle these sinkhole areas with an earthen dam and water control structure. Erika Zambello is the communications director for Audubon Florida, a National Geographic Young Explorer grant recipient, and the cofounder of the communications company TerraCommunications.org. "Historic Lake Jackson Now Practically Dry Fish Galore," Tallahassee Democrat, November 20, 1918. TALLAHASSEE, Fla. In the past Native Americans camped at a lake just north of what is now the State Capitol in Tallahassee, but now hundreds are flocking there because the lake is being swallowed by a sinkhole. The6-foot-2 Scott was able to stand upright as he explored each of the caves for a few feet before they ended in small fractures in the limestone that enabledthe water to continue on to theFloridan aquifer. The water goes into the Floridan Aquifer System. He brought his 18-month-old son for pictures. It is not a matter how often it rains but the volume, or how much it rains. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. The entrance to Faulk Drive Landing is also blocked off to vehicles. Buoys stand dry on land, and numerous birds wander on foot. Okeehempkee is what the Seminole Tribe used to call Lake Jackson. More:What lies beneath Lake Jackson? Dry conditions, a lack of rainfall and a lowered water table are likely causes. The Tallahassee Democrat recently called on two retired scientists with a list of frequently asked questions readers have had about how and why Lake Jackson can periodically drain and all but disappear. A great blue heron sits near the edge of Lake Jackson, by Sunset Landing. Authorities say two skulls found when the lake drained are not the result of foul play but are of archaeological interest. Nobody knew of anyonehaving gonedown a sinkhole at Lake Jacksonbeforebecause weve got norecords of an opening like the one in 1999, said Scott. My answer is to consider what Lake Jackson looked like hundreds of years ago. When the lake opened this time, the first onlookers found two human remains. Under normal conditions with the lake, the caves wouldhave been filledwith water.. Mike Vasilinda, Tallahassee correspondent. If you need help with WJXTs or WCWJ's FCC public inspection file, call (904) 393-9801. The yellow caution tape that surrounded the sinkhole last week, now under water, was being retrieved by the Department of Environmental Protection to protect future boaters. Certainly, during the early drydown, fish trapped in the small pools succumb to predation and lake of dissolved oxygen. Give Light and the People Will Find Their Own Way. Dye Study in Floridas Lake Jackson Sinkhole, The Fishing Wire 2020 / All Rights Reserved, Lake Jackson Aquatic Preserve and dry down events, Three-Catfish Bag Totals Over 120 Pounds in King Kat Event, Utah to Remove Brookies in High Unitas to Restore Cutthroats. Osprey and Turkey Vultures wheeled in tight circles above a small pool of water, surrounding by the sloping sides of what had been the lake bottom. Butit is the handiwork of an intriguing natural phenomenon. Lake Jacksons lake levels depend on several 3 or 6 rains to guarantee that the bottom wont be exposed. What we are seeing now is that the Lake Jackson watershed received more rain than the current sinkhole opening can accept water. Four ways the lake level gets lower before the sinkhole becomes active Evaporation: This is part of the water cycle. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. Copyright 2023 News4JAX.com is managed by Graham Digital and published by Graham Media Group, a division of Graham Holdings. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. [12], Lake Jackson is part of the Lake Jackson Aquatic Preserve, along with Lake Carr and Mallard Pond. The ground is mucky on this weekday morning and a few pools remain in places where the lakebed dips. Flash forward to 2021: After days of heavy rain, there are signs that the lake is returning, but it's too soon to know if it will stick, Hill told the Democrat. James Call is a member of the USA TODAY NETWORK-Florida Capital Bureau. All of our local lakes (except Lake Talquin) formed over geologic time as the acidified rainfall slowly dissolved the underlying limestone. The last time the limestone outcroppings was revealed was 2012, but only briefly. I think being able to see a lake bottom that is usually covered in water is fantastic and reminds me of a moonscape. Become a member and get exclusive access to articles, contests and more! 2 of 51 Lake Lafayette at the site of a sinkhole in 1909. Follow on him Twitter: @CallTallahassee. As this limestone dissolution continued, the subsidence featured depressions that held water (lakes) during ample rainfall. Click here to take a moment and familiarize yourself with our Community Guidelines. Copyright 2021 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. PHOTO: State Archives of Florida/Elias Howard Sellards. The Florida Department of Environmental Protection said the rim of Porter Sink Hole was exposed again as of Dec. 1. Never miss a story: Subscribe to the Tallahassee Democrat using the link at the top of the page. BirdWatching The resulting dry down is good for the ecosystems overall health, as the sudden onslaught of air speeds up decomposition of the bottom, keeping it from becoming too mucky and accumulating too much partially decomposed vegetation. The rush of water sounds as if you're standing at the edge of Niagara Falls flowing into an aquifer below Lake Jackson. Copyright 2021 by WJXT News4Jax - All rights reserved. Sign in to continue reading. Once the dye is introduced through Porter Hole Sink, the sites will be monitored until dye is detected. Lake Jackson is performing an encore, disappearing for the second time in a matter of months. 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. Numerous wetland tree and woody plant species also inhabit the drier portions of the transitional marsh. There were either few aquatic plants or plants that could grow in low-nutrient environments. "Fishing Regulations Lifted as Lake Jackson Empties Its Waters Into Underground Pit," Tallahassee Democrat, January 7, 1932. 1 weather alerts 1 closings/delays. I for one felt grateful for the avian clean-up crew; I had expected the whole area to reek of dead fish, but all I could smell was the earthy odor of the drying lake bottom. The Lake Jackson Mounds Archaeological State Park is located adjacent to the lake. These include sweetgum, a variety of oaks, wax myrtle, the Carolina willow (salix caroliniana), and elderberry. Saturday is a perfect time to release the dye due to the low water conditions at Porter Hole Sink and the approach of Tropical Storm Fred. Thomasville, FEATURED PODCAST - Not So Black and White: A community's divided history, complete bio, contact info, and more stories, At least 36 are dead in Greece after two trains collided. Thanks to days of summer rain and Tropical Storm Claudette, Lake Jackson is looking like a lake again. TALLAHASSEE, Fla. On Saturday, Aug. 14, 2021, the Florida Geological Survey (FGS), in coordination with the Northwest Florida Water Management District, introduced a non-toxic fluorescent dye into Porter Hole Sink. These cookies do not store any personal information. However, there are no pictures, of this that I know of, and when the bottom of Lime Sink was exposed in 2000, there wasnt even a hint of such a large vehicle being in there. I just cant believe what Im seeing. Under the lakebed,Scott sawstrata from the Torreya Formation,a strain of minerals compressed14millionyears ago thatrunfrom Gadsden to Hamilton County. The trios excitement grew whenheconfirmed the walls were stableenough to go deepersafelyinto the ground. Hefound himself in a chamber that opened to caves running north, east, and west. The rhizomes that dry out will die, but the rhizomes that remain hydrated (moist) through this event will sprout new lily pads and flowers. This footage was shot on a DJI Mavic Air 2. Confirming this connection will help resource managers develop more informed strategies for managing our water resources.. Hill noted how the ceiling of one of the chambers was covered insnottites. Like stalactites but with the consistency of mucus, slimy bacteria hungfrom the ceiling, something that can only form when a chamber hasextensive air pockets. Limestone, clay and sand with an organic layer of decaying aquatic plants (muck). Alex Murdaugh and his family long dominated the legal scene in his small, rural South Carolina county where the only roads in are two lanes. Florida in general is flat, flat, flat, so the jagged sinkhole ravines stunned me, like we had suddenly been transported to western mine country. See a blizzard of Snow Geese and Tundra Swans at this Globally Significant Important Bird Area. More than one person told me that a bus was even dumped in it! People walking along the side of the sinkhole at Lake Jackson Thursday would have been in three to four feet of water before the lake drained. "You couldn't imagine that the water would be down this low and then you wonder 'where is it going and how does it get back in here," questioned Register. "Years ago when I was a kid I fished with my Grandad on this lake and my dad, but this is very impressive," Lavon Register who came out to spectate the Lake Jackson dry down. More:With heavy rain falling, Lake Jackson begins to return but will it stick? Porter Sinkhole at Lake Jackson (Tallahassee, FL) opened up and consumed most of the water that the lake holds. The fact is that fish that swim into the sink, quickly die of oxygen deprivation even before they starve to death. State geologists were on hand at Lake Jackson on Thursday with ground penetrating radar. Florida Geological Survey, Third Annual Report 1909-1910. The first recorded dry down was in 1829. The Florida DEP says that foot traffic is allowed to the Porter Sink Hole off of Faulk Drive, but advises you to be careful when you're out there. The Porter Sink Hole, growing in size since last month. Moist and dying vegetation also has a musty smell, akin to the low tide smell one finds at the coast. Fish skeletons littered the drying mud, and where once I had seen mostly raptors, I now spotted wading birds. Yes, drought is the primary factor for the lake bottom to be revealed. Parts of the lake are now dry again, revealing trash, such as empty Busch beer cans, and treasure, including shells. Locations from Minnesota to South Carolina to Colombia where you can spot this beautiful warbler. Army ants cornered a birding group along Pipeline Road in Panama, leading to a bevy of sightings of antbirds, puffbirds, tinamou, and more. Now, the sinkhole and surrounding lake depression have become a birding hotspot. Oh wow. 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