The City’s lakes are vital to the citizens of Lakeland, providing opportunities for recreation, habitat and sanctuaries for wildlife, beautiful outdoor spaces to enjoy, and reducing local flooding potential.
Within the City limits, there are 38 named lakes and numerous smaller lakes, ranging in size from 2.5 acres (Lake Blanton) to 2272 acres (Lake Parker).
Water discharged from these lakes flows through area creeks, ditches and pipes to tributaries of three major river systems—the Peace River, the Alafia River, and the Hillsborough River.
In 1987, the Lakes Program was added to the City’s Public Works Department. Because of the important connection between stormwater and lake conservation, the Stormwater and Lakes Management Programs were merged in 1999 becoming the Lakes & Stormwater Division. This group continually strives toward improving the health and beauty of all our lakes and waterways.
The Lakes & Stormwater staff invite you to take advantage of and enjoy the many lakes and water resources available to Lakeland residents and visitors alike!
Tell me more about the lakes
Several of the lakes in Lakeland are natural such as Parker, Hunter, Hollingsworth, Bonny, Beulah, Bonnet, Mirror, Morton, Gibson and Wire.
There are also lakes in our area that are man-made and formed as a result of phosphate mining. Some of these lakes include Bentley, Canyon, Crago, John, Waterview, and Somerset.
You can find out even more about the lakes by visiting the Polk County Water Atlas web page.
Tell me more about the stormwater drainage system
All the storm drains in the City of Lakeland drain to one of our lakes, wetlands, ponds, ditches, creeks, canals, or other water-ways. The City-wide storm drainage system includes approximately:
- 348 miles of storm sewer pipe
- 11,776 storm inlets
That's why it's important to remember: ONLY RAIN GOES DOWN THE DRAIN
I love our lakes, how can I help protect them?
Report Pollution in the street or storm drain:
Call - 863.834.3300
Email - Lakes&Stormwater@lakelandgov.net
Submit questions via- http://cac.lakelandgov.net/
The Pollution Hotline is a means for citizens to quickly and easily report illicit discharges observed within the City of Lakeland. Please call 863-834-3300 and press 3 to reach the Lakes & Stormwater Division directly. This will enable a quick response to the incident for the purpose of preventing pollution.
All the storm drains within the City of Lakeland drain directly to one of our lakes, ponds, or wetland areas.
Illicit discharges going into the storm drain can include, but are not limited to, waste flows from the following:
- Commercial car wash facilities
- Construction site runoff
- Drainage of chlorinated swimming pool water
- Industrial processes
- Liquids such as oil, grease, paint, chemicals, and automobile fluids
- Pressure washing processes
- Restaurant operations
- Sewage and septic tanks
In addition, grass clippings and yard debris left in the street after lawn maintenance activities also represent an illicit discharge. Upon reaching our lakes, this material is a source of nutrients that can be a contributing factor in algae blooms which may ultimately cause fish kills.
You can be a partner in helping to keep our lakes clean by reporting pollution when observing an illicit discharge in the street or storm drain and please remember…only rain goes down the storm drain!