Yard drainage near Lake Jackson
Drainage help for the hilly neighborhoods ringing one of Leon County's best-known lakes.
Lake Jackson spreads across the northwest side of Tallahassee and Leon County, with neighborhoods climbing the hills around it. It's also a living example of the limestone under Leon County. The lake has two major sinkholes, Porter Sink and Lime Sink, that are usually plugged with sediment but can open when groundwater drops, draining much of the lake into the Floridan Aquifer. That's been recorded more than a dozen times since 1829, most recently in 2021.
What that means for your yard
Most homes near the lake will never see a sinkhole, but the geology argues for keeping drainage on the surface. Rather than burying water in a pit, contractors here tend to steer runoff into swales, rain gardens and pop-up emitters on the owner's lot. If a depression opens in your yard, keep water away from it, contact your insurer, and have it evaluated before anyone works nearby.
Slopes toward the water
Lots that fall toward the lake or a feeder stream often have the opposite problem from flat yards: runoff moves fast, carrying sand and clay with it. Sediment washing downhill isn't just lost topsoil; it ends up in the lake. Planted slopes, swales with check points, and covering bare soil quickly after any grading help hold it in place.
Typical jobs near the lake
- Erosion control and swales on lake-facing slopes
- Downspout lines ending in rain gardens or emitters
- French drains below terraced back yards
- Patio and walkway surface drains
Common questions
Why does Lake Jackson sometimes drain away?
Its sinkholes, Porter Sink and Lime Sink, can unplug when groundwater levels fall, letting lake water drain into the aquifer. It has happened many times, most recently in 2021.
Is my house near the lake in the city or the county?
It depends on the address. Some lakeside neighborhoods are inside Tallahassee and others aren't, so check your property record to see whose permits apply.
Services in Lake Jackson
- French drainsGravel-and-pipe trenches that dry out soggy lawns and catch water seeping off a slope.
- Downspout drain linesBuried solid pipe that carries roof water away from the slab to a safe outlet.
- Regrading and swalesReshape the ground so runoff flows around the house to a safe spot.
- Sump pumps and crawl space waterPump out water that collects under raised floors and fix what's feeding it.
- Channel drains and dry wellsCatch sheet flow at driveways and patios, or hold water on lots with no outlet.
Nearby areas
Yard turning into a pond after every summer storm?
Call and a local drainage contractor will come look at where the water starts and where it can safely go.