Water Quality of Winter Haven Lakes Have Increased Dramatically, Annual Lakes Report Finds
by James Coulter
Since the Lakes Advisory Committee (LAC) was established in 1986, the water quality of local lakes has increased dramatically, according to a recent report by the city government.
Recently, the City of Winter Haven’s Natural Resources Division, under LAC’s guidance, released its Annual Lakes Report. The annual report provides an analysis of local lakes. Water quality is assessed using metrics based on the amount of nutrients such as chlorophyll-a, total nitrogen, total phosphorus, and water clarity.
Dustin Everitt, Natural Resources Manager, offered a presentation of this year’s report at the regular city commission meeting on Mon. July 8 at Winter Haven City Hall.
“The Annual Lakes Report provides a comprehensive outlook on the health of Winter Haven’s lakes,” he explained. “The report evaluates water quality, hydrology, and ecology to prioritize management practices and ensure sustainable use of these natural resources.”
This year’s report reveals that overall water quality has not only improved since the inception of the LAC, but also quite dramatically within the past year alone. The report finds that, within the past year, 54 percent of lakes met regulatory water quality targets, showing improvement from previous years.
According to the staff memo on the report: “Of the 37 lakes monitored in 2023, over half (or 54%) were meeting State regulatory impairment guidelines for chlorophyll-a, total nitrogen, and total phosphorus concentrations, an increase from 51% in 2022.”
Lake Buckeye had the best overall water quality, according to the report, thanks to its excellent water quality metrics and healthy vegetation community, with Lake Daisy and Lake Winterset following close behind. In contrast, Lake Idyl had the lowest lake health score, with Lake Blue and Lake Smart being nearly as bad.
“With your continued support, our natural resources division will continue to monitor our lakes and implement ways to improve water quality,” Everitt stated.
The Annual Lakes Report was officially adopted by the City Commission through a unanimous vote of approval. The 200-page report can be accessed and read on the City of Winter Haven’s website
