Lakes Brochure - Highlands County

FLORIDA FISH AND WILDLIFE
CONSERVATION COMMISSION
3200 Drane Field Road
Lakeland, FL 33811-1299 ............... (863) 648-3203
Regional Fisheries Biologist ........... (863) 462-5190
Fisheries Biologist (Okeechobee) ... (863) 462-5190
Law Enforcement
Violations, Emergency,
Nuisance alligators and wildlife...... (888) 404-3922
Law Enforcement
Non emergency, rules,
Problem Alligators .................. (866) FWC-GATOR
Myfwc.com
UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA
Florida LAKEWATCH Program
7922 NW 71st Street
Gainesville, FL 32611 .................... .(800) 525-3928
Lakewatch.ifas.ufl.edu
HIGHLANDS COUNTY LAKES
ASSOCIATION
P.O. Box 1025
Lake Placid, FL 33862
John Ruggiero, President ................ (863) 465-7855
HighlandsCountyLakesAssociation.com
HIGHLANDS COUNTY DEPARTMENTS
Parks and Recreation....................... (863) 402-6812
Aquatic Weed Control ..................... (863) 402-7423
Natural Resources ........................... (863) 402-6545
Main Switchboard ........................... (863) 402-6500
CONTACT INFORMATION
Above: The Black Crappie,
or Speck, is a popular sportfish
and favorite among locals.
Above: The Catfish is a bottom dweller, using its characteristic
whiskers, or barbels, to navigate muddy and murky waters. Catfish
rank high on the tastiness scale.
Visit
MyFWC.com to
find information
regarding fishing
regulations,
licenses,
and boating
information.
SPOTLIGHT on some area lakes… At nearly 28,000
acres, Lake Istokpoga is the fifth largest lake in Florida and
contains 60% of the public access surface area in Highlands
County. Lake Istokpoga is one of the best fishing lakes in the
state. Many activities, including the County’s refurbishment of
the Istokpoga and Windy Point Parks, the multi-million dollar
habitat restoration project in 2001, ongoing efforts to control
Hydrilla, the establishment of a 15 to 24 inch bass slot limit
and inclusion of Istokpoga in funding
for the Everglades restoration are all
focused on Highlands County’s giant
lake. Anglers travel from all over the
state and even nation to fish Istokpoga.
There are several fish camps on Lake
Istokpoga, providing recreational and
serious anglers alike many hours of
enjoyment. There are four public and
several private launch ramps providing
access to Istokpoga.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
(FWC) estimates that fishing and other forms of recreation
on Lake Istokpoga provide 39 million dollars per year to the
economy of Highlands County. Lake Istokpoga is the second
largest of the FWC’s 84 Fish Management Areas. The lake is
also home to several federally-protected species, including the
Everglades Snail Kite, American Bald Eagle, and the Crested
Caracara as well as
numerous species
of wading birds and
waterfowl. Istokpoga
is home to the largest
recorded resident
population of Osprey
of any lake in the
world; they are there
for the fishing too.
More than 95% of
the surface water in
Highlands County flows to Lake Istokpoga by way of Josephine
and Arbuckle Creeks. In order to allow development along the
shore, prevent flooding downstream and provide a reliable surface
water supply, water levels in Lake
Istokpoga are regulated. The South
Florida Water Management District
(SFWMD) follow a regulation
schedule established by the Army
Corps of Engineers in 1962.
Lake Jackson
is the centerpiece of the
city of Sebring, Florida.
Sebring is the county seat
of Highlands County. Lake
Jackson, a healthy freshwater
lake, supports an excellent
sport fishery. The lake is
approximately 25 feet at its
deepest. Most of the area is
fairly shallow, 9-16 feet. The
water is clear as compared to
most lakes and the shores are
sandy.
The lake has one public boat ramp at Veterans Beach on the
lake’s west side. Most ramps are private and there are many
private beaches. The city of Sebring maintains four public
swimming beaches at Veterans Beach, City Pier Beach (just to
the west of downtown Sebring), Crescent Beach (located just off
of S.E. Lakeview Drive), and Hidden Beach, (on the NE side of
the lake). Pleasure boating and fishing are popular activities. A
public fishing dock is to the north side of the swimming beach
near downtown. The shore is largely surrounded by homes. The
only areas not surrounded by residential property are the south
and southwest sides bordered by US Highway 27. Surprisingly,
even in this relatively urban environment, wildlife abounds
particularly on the southern portions fronted by US Hwy 27.
Bird and alligator watching are common along the natural
habitat maintained in this conservation area. Often wading birds
and waterfowl congregate here. The state listed Least Tern has
nested here when beach conditions are right.
Lake June-in-Winter, formerly known as Lake
Stearns after one of the original surveyors of the county in the
1850’s, is the second largest lake in Highlands County at 3,504
acres and is the largest of the ridge lakes. As with Lake Jackson,
June-in-Winter is a multi-use lake, frequented by swimmers,
fishermen and boaters. It is probably the most heavily used
lake in Highlands County. Highlands County’s Bishop Park,
located in the northeast portion of the lake, and Lake June Park,
directly across the lake to the
south, are large public recreational
areas with boat launches, public
swimming, and picnic facilities.
The lake is connected by
residential canals to Lakes Carrie
and Henry on the north and the
Placid Lakes development on the
south. There is also a boat launch
on Lake Carrie. Additionally,
more than 800 acres occupying
the west shore of the lake is
preserved in the Lake June-inWinter Scrub Park, which offers
a unique opportunity to explore some of the rarest habitat on
earth. Extensive modifications have been made to surface water
flows into and out of Lake June-in-Winter. The primary surface
water inflow to the lake is through Catfish Creek Canal that
drains the area between June-in-Winter and Lake Placid (Childs)
immediately upstream. Outflows from Lake June originally
passed through Lake Francis before draining into Jack Creek.
The natural outflow has been replaced with a canal and small
outlet structure to Lake Francis. Flood conditions on the lake
are controlled by a SWFWMD-operated structure that releases
directly to Jack Creek, by-passing Lake Francis.
Lake Tulane, located in the southern part of the City of
Avon Park, is a relatively deep lake with a public boat ramp on
the west side. Though small at 89 acres, it is a significant lake
for several reasons. First, Lake Tulane has been estimated to
be 50,000 years old, making it older than any other lake with a
documented age in North America. Secondly, Lake Tulane is a
prime example of a typical
Ridge-type lake. The lake
was formed by sinkhole
activity and is surrounded
by sandy soils, making
the lake extremely low in
nutrients and very clear. In
fact, Lake Tulane is among
the clearest in the county
with visibility extending down to 30 feet below the water’s
surface. The very low algae levels in this lake, resulting from
extremely low nutrient levels, in turn lead to the high degree of
water clarity, which persists even though the lakes watershed is
completely developed. Future concern for Lake Tulane relates
to development pressures and increased nutrient usage in the
watershed surrounding the lake. Because this lake and other
similar lakes are so deep, they depend more on groundwater
to maintain their water levels. As a result, it takes longer for
the level of Tulane to reach annual high levels than lakes that
depend on streams. Despite this, Tulane has a very healthy level
fluctuation range. Lake Tulane, studied by scientists nationwide,
has and will continue to fascinate for generations to come. Fullpage copies of the depth contour maps for each of these lakes are
available at Lakewatch.IFAS.UFL.EDU/MapList.htm.
Adelaide 1
Damon 1, 3, 4, 5
Olivia 4, 5
Pioneer 1, 4, 5
Viola 1, 4, 5
Verona 2
Tulane 2, 4
Lotela 1, 3, 4, 5
Lelia 1
Glenada 1, 3, 4, 7
Li
Denton
Letta 1, 3, 4, 5
ttl
eB
on
ne
t1
Bonnet 1, 4
Little Redwater 1, 4
Sebring 1, 3, 4, 5
Dinner 1, 3, 4
Jackson
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7
Little Jackson 4, 5
Red Beach 4, 7
SR 66
US 98
Wolf 1, 4
Josephine 1, 4
Istokpoga
1, 4, 6, 7
Persimmon
Little
Redwater 1, 4
Redwater 1, 4
Francis 4, 5
Carrie 1, 4
Apthorpe 1, 4
Henry
1
Clay 4, 5
June
2, 3, 4, 5
Huntley 4
Placid
1, 4, 5, 6
SR 70
LEGEND
US 27
LIGHTNING IS A KILLER.
The highest death rates from lightning in the United States are in
Florida, which is known as the lightning capital of the country.
During thunderstorms avoid open
spaces such as lakes and ponds and
avoid trees. Thunderstorms in Florida
can be extremely fast moving. Pay
attention to the weather and don’t
wait for a storm to be upon you. When you hear thunder, head
for cover. Of the victims who were killed by lightning in 2008,
29% were on or near the water. Head for cover and live to enjoy
Florida’s outdoor treasures another day.
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Wildlife Viewing
Public Swimming
Sea Plane
Fishing/Hunting
Ski/Jet Ski
Airboat
Fishing Pier
Public Access Lakes
Non-Public Access Lakes
Roads
Boat Ramps