Lake Life in Lake Placid, FL

Lakes are one of Highlands County’s most attractive natural features. The greater Lake Placid area includes 29 named lakes with over 11,000 acres of surface water, as well as Lake Istokpoga, Florida’s fifth largest lake at 27,692 acres. There is an incredible diversity of lakes in the area that ranges from large deep, clear lakes such as Placid and June-in-Winter to shallower, highly productive lakes such as Apthorpe, Crews, and Carrie that support excellent fish populations. Lake Istokpoga, world-renowned for its fishing, also supports resident populations of osprey and bald eagles, as well as many other forms of wildlife.

Water quality in Lake Placid’s lakes is generally excellent, but as with any other natural system, it must be protected. Activities such as rainwater from roadways and parking lots and overzealous fertilizing are just a couple of activities that add nutrients and contaminants to the lakes, threatening our enjoyment of these lakes. Public awareness of these threats is the first step to their control. Monthly sampling by local Florida LAKEWATCH volunteers provides invaluable information about the condition of our lakes. The bulk of the lake management information used by the Highlands County Lakes Management Program is collected by LAKEWATCH volunteers.

Lake Placid’s lakes will be the main attraction for generations to come only if we take care of them. If you would like further information about Lake Placid area lakes, contact the Highlands County Lakes Manager, Clell Ford, at 863-402-6545.