Stop 1: Brooker Creek

You are now standing over Brooker Creek, a rainfed creek starting in northwest Hillsborough County. You can actually visit the headwaters at Brooker Creek Headwaters Nature Preserve to see where the creek begins. Since it’s a rain-fed creek, water levels will fluctuate throughout the year when it rains. The creek is typically full of water during our rainy season (around May through October) and dries up significantly during the winter months. The creek meanders from the headwaters through suburban neighborhoods and farmlands and more before it enters Brooker Creek Preserve. The water flows through the preserve and into Lake Tarpon. From there waters can enter Upper Tampa Bay through a control structure when water levels in Lake Tarpon get too high. This wasn’t always the case though; you can learn more about this by visiting our Exhibit Hall and exploring the historical satellite images of the Tarpon Springs area. You can see where Brooker Creek enters Lake Tarpon at John Chesnut Sr. Park in Palm Harbor.The Preserve plays a very important role in the health and quality of Lake Tarpon by filtering pollutants and excess nutrients before flowing into the lake.

Now, you might be wondering, If the plants help to filter the pollutants out of the water, why is it so brown? It’s from all the leaves falling into the creek. Think about it like a giant cup of tea. Rain water is clear; just like when you fill your tea cup with water from the faucet, but as leaves fall into the water, tannins from the leaves are released, staining the water a darker color, just like a cup of tea.

Want to learn even more about water quality!? Click HERE for bonus information on our water quality.