Rural living

Rural Living is a lifestyle and is quite different from living in the suburbs or the city.  There is much to consider when moving to and living in a rural setting.

From City to Country

The transition for some can be a difficult one. Fantasies about living a peaceful, independent, existence in the country, away from crowds, can soon turn to feelings of isolation.  A trip to the grocery or hardware store is now a chore.  Long trips to reach your favorite blend of specialty coffee or exotic dish can become cumbersome.  Getting to work in the morning will mean rising earlier for the longer commute.   Those who move to get away from urban problems soon discover they no longer have the same conveniences that living in the city provides. The transition can be educational to say the least.

Think twice before you say you want the local roads widened, or that grocery store built on the corner.  The size of a commercial development at an intersection is governed by the number of lanes of the intersecting roads.  The more lanes, the more and bigger buildings can be built.  Pretty soon the place you move to get away from it all is more like the place that you left.  For those of you who have lived in the area a while, a couple of prime examples are Bruce B. Downs Blvd. in new Tampa, and Gunn Highway from Anderson to the expressway.  It wasn’t so long ago that these were two lane rural roads.  The roads were widened and development occurred that has only led to gridlock.

Businesses such as grocery stores, convenience stores and fast food restaurants take their toll on our resources. Commercial property in our area must use onsite wells and septic systems just like the rest of us in our rural service area.  In addition to increasing traffic, they use a disproportionate amount of water, and pollute with excessive sewage and stormwater runoff polluting our lakes.  In addition, many patrons litter our roads, and there is noise drowning out the sounds of crickets and frogs and the glow of bright lights inhibiting the view of our starry skies.

Living with Wildlife

Wildlife habitat loss is increasing due to human development.  Many new rural residents think it is fun, entertaining and educational to feed and care for wild animals.  This can be very harmful to wildlife, as well as yourself, your family and your domesticated animals. Many wild animals carry diseases. If they are using the same feed dishes and watering tanks as your domestic livestock and pets there is a good chance of diseases being transmitted.  By feeding wild animals you may be disrupting the natural migration. These animals are used to thousands of years of fending for themselves. The local wildlife division will take exception to anyone that interferes with this natural process. However if you are having a problem with these animals they will offer assistance to help you deal with the problem in a humane manner. Poisoning and trapping wildlife in most states now is strictly prohibited. 

Rural Florida is home to many critters including raccoons, armadillos, opossums, rabbits, and foxes.  Some might find having these around a little unnerving at first, but if you take the time to observe them and you’ll come to accept and appreciate their presence, but remember, don’t feed wild animals.  Be sure to check your house exterior and seal any holes to keep animals out of your attic.

 If you find what you believe is an orphaned or injured animal, please know that often they have just left the nest and a parent is nearby keeping close watch.  Emergency help and guidance is just a keystroke away at http://www.wildlifehavenrehab.org/emergencyHelp.php .

Think twice before killing snakes.  Although most people don’t want them around, snakes are part of your rural environment and they keep the rats and mice in check.  Most snakes in our area are the non-poisonous Black Racers.

Don’t feed alligators!  They can find food just fine on their own. In addition, it’s dangerous and illegal.   Leave them alone and they should leave you alone.  Be careful not to leave pets unattended where alligators might show up.

Most everything we do affects wildlife and its habitat, either directly or indirectly.  Remember, you are an intruder to their home.  With a little compromise and respect, you can co-exist and you will learn that it will reward you in countless ways!

Natural Surroundings

Hug a tree!  Go ahead and try it and see if you don’t change your mind about cutting one down.  Trees take many years to grow, but can be destroyed in a matter of minutes.  Don’t do something you might regret!

Wildfire

Always closely supervise any fire.  There are lots of palmettos in our area and the dead leaves beneath them dry out quickly between each rainfall.  These can catch on fire very easily and spread fast.  Never throw a cigarette out of a car on a rural road (or anywhere else for that matter!).

Be extra careful with fireworks in rural areas.  They can be unpredictable and might land where not intended and start a fire. Please also consider how frightening these explosives are to pets and wildlife.

Keep in mind that rural areas do not have fire hydrants on every corner and takes much longer for the fire department to arrive.

Other Considerations

Slow down on our rural roads.  Our area is home to deer, raccoons, armadillos, sand hill cranes and gopher tortoises that often wander out into the road.

Sound and Light pollution – Although your neighbors might not be as close as they were in the city or subdivision you left, they are there.  Be considerate with your noise and please keep outdoor lighting at a minimum so you can see the stars.

Snipe Signs

Many Keystone-Odessa residents take offense to the myriad of “snipe” signs (i.e. Lose Weight Today; Save on Your Mortgage; House for Sale, etc.) littering our scenic roads.  Hillsborough and many of the neighboring counties have ordinances against placement signs within the roadside right-of-way.  Know the rules before your sign is disposed of.  A little roadside trash may not seem like a lot but it adds up quickly.  Please do your part to curb roadside litter.  The KCA sponsors a quarterly Adopt-a-Road litter clean-up along Gunn Highway.  To volunteer, contact Greg Riski at 813-920-5561.

In Closing…

This information is not all-inclusive, but a helpful guide intended to educate and inform.  It is by no means meant to deter, only to inform you of what to expect.  Rural life can be a very rewarding experience.  Speak with your neighbors - many will say they consider themselves privileged to live in such a unique place, and even consider themselves “stewards” of the land. So whether you are a new or a longtime resident, we hope you enjoy rural living as much as we do!

Lake Living

If you are new to lake living, or even a longtime lakefront resident, here are some facts and tips that can help you make better decisions about your property.  Living near, or next to, a body of water prompts us to think differently about our land-use actions.  What you do and how you do it will affect everyone on the lake, so education is key.

The Lakeshore Banks 

Natural erosion controls on a lakeshore are the trees, shrubs, and (weeds) found on the shoreline.  Clear-cutting the bank is not a good idea since it removes your wind and wave protection and leaves you susceptible to erosion and runoff.  Without vegetation to hold the soil, your newly created beach will disappear quickly with just minor boat traffic.  Clearing the bank also reduces the shade and natural habitat for wildlife.  Alternatively to improve view, selectively remove upper growth on shrubs and lower growth on canopy trees.  A good rule of thumb is to live with what you have for a year or so before making any drastic decisions.  Most clearing activities are regulated by the Hillsborough County Environmental Protection Committee (EPC), Southwest Florida Management District (SWFWMD) and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) so be sure to check with them before you clear to avoid fines or having to replace what was removed. 

Fertilizers and Pesticides

Runoff from homes, farms, roads and driveways in the watershed brings unwanted nutrients into lakes.   Anything added to your soil that causes your grass and flowers to grow will invariably cause weeds, algae and invasive plants to flourish in your lake.  They can also result in harm to fish and wildlife.  If you feel in necessary to use fertilizers or pesticides in your yard, please limit their use within 100 feet of the lake.  It is against the law to put chemicals into lakes (including spraying lake weeds) without a special permit and should only be done by a licensed applicator.

Light and Sound Pollution

One of the joys of lake living is the serenity, night darkness and peacefulness of the environment.  Sound and light carry rapidly and uninhibited across open water.  Please be considerate of your neighbors with noise, outdoor lighting and spotlights.

Boat Erosion

Boating and jet skiing are part of the joys of living on a lake.  Besides the responsibility of being a safe operator, you also have the responsibility to protecting the environment.  Improper launching and loading of a vessel can create huge underwater caverns and turbid water from power launching.  Vessels creating excessive wakes can cause erosion of sand beaches and vegetation alike.  Minimum distances from shorelines should be observed to minimize vegetation and wildlife disturbance.

Seasonal Water Level Changes

The water level in your lake or pond will vary throughout the year.  The highest water levels will be in the summer when thundershowers and storms are frequent.  Conversely, in the spring when it is much dryer, water levels can drop two feet or more from the summer high.  These fluctuations are natural, and assuming normal rainfall, it is nothing to be alarmed about.

Wildlife

Of course people will always ask, “are there alligators in this lake?”  The answer is “yes”.  Alligators may be found in any lake or pond in Florida.  They might not be there every day, however, they may be there at any time.  Do not leave pets unattended near water and never feed alligators.

If you are fortunate enough to live on the water, in addition to fish and turtles, there is a myriad of birds to be seen such as: 

• Anhinga – often seen diving for fish and later perched on a branch with wings spread to dry
• Great Egret – Very large white bird with jet-black legs and a yellow beak
• Great Blue Heron – Very large blue-grey bird with a yellow beak
• Ibis – Smaller white bird with a long curved orange beak
• Osprey – Bird of prey that occupy large nests on top of power poles and swoop down over lakes plunging feet first into the water to grab fish.
• Wood Stork – White bird with a dark brownish-grey head and beak

Also keep an eye out for Bald Eagles.  They’re not as common as the birds mentioned above, but they are occasionally seen flying over our lakes.  Another occasional visitor that might show up is the beloved river otter.  In any case, keep a camera handy!

Functions of Wetlands

From the Environmental Protection Commission of Hillsborough County

For more information, visit the EPC website at http://www.epchc.org/rules.htm

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