Content provided by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission

Signs of spring – balmy weather, blooming flowers and nesting birds – are occurring throughout Florida. Warmer temperatures also mean alligators are more active and visible. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) recommends taking precautions when in and around the water and has expanded its safety materials to include a video and infographic in Spanish.

While serious injuries caused by alligators are rare in Florida, the FWC offers the following tips about how to safely co-exist with them:

  • Keep a safe distance if you see an alligator and never feed one. When fed, alligators can lose their natural wariness and instead learn to associate people with the availability of food.
  • Swim only in designated swimming areas during daylight hours. Alligators are most active between dusk and dawn.
  • Keep pets on a leash and away from the water’s edge and never let them swim in fresh or brackish water. Pets often resemble alligators’ natural prey.
  • Call the FWC’s Nuisance Alligator Hotline at 866-FWC-GATOR (866-392-4286) if you believe an alligator poses a threat to people, pets or property and the FWC will dispatch a contracted nuisance alligator trapper to resolve the situation. The FWC places the highest priority on public safety and administers a Statewide Nuisance Alligator Program (SNAP) to proactively address alligator threats in developed areas, while conserving alligators in areas where they naturally occur.
  • Find more resources about living with alligators and Spanish translation information tools at MyFWC.com/Alligator.

The American alligator, Florida’s state reptile, is a conservation success story. Florida has a healthy and stable alligator population, which is estimated at 1.3 million alligators of every size. They are found in freshwater lakes, ponds, swamps and slow-moving rivers in all 67 counties in Florida.

Lakes Education/Action Drive is a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving the natural beauty and quality of lakes in Polk County, Florida.

Established in 1985, LE/AD has taken an active role in the pursuit to preserve our lakes and environmental resources. Lakes are ecologically and economically valuable, and our lakes deserve our care and protection. In addition, LE/AD encourages residents to take advantage of the many excellent opportunities our lakes provide.

 

Over the years, the Lakes Education Action Drive has provided lakeshore signage educating visitors on Polk County Watersheds. Many of these signs have been updated by the County or Municipality where they are located. However, some of these signs have not.

Below is a list of the lakeshore signage, LE/AD has placed over the years. We last investigated the condition of these sign in 2014 and would like to once again, take stock of their condition.

For a Printable List, Click HERE

 

 

Lake Name General Location Street Address Latitude Longitude Subject Material Photo Y / N Last Known Condition Current Condition
Blue Lake Blue Park @ pavilion N of Lake Dr NW and Lake Blue Dr 28.0488       -81.7709 Lake Blue connects to Peace River Good 9/5/2014
Blue Lake Blue Park @ pavilion N of Lake Dr NW and Lake Blue Dr 28.0488       -81.7709 Healthy Land and Water Good – Fair , crazing 9-5-2014
Bonny Lake Bonney Park trail at N end of boardwalk Bartow Rd Lakeland 33801 28.0376       -81.9341 Lake Bonney Watershed Fair, crazing 8/26/2014
Bonny Lake Bonney Park trail at N end of boardwalk Bartow Rd Lakeland 33801 28.0376       -81.9341 Stormwater Runoff Fair, crazing 8/26/2014
Ft Meade SE Patterson Park, E of bridge 521 4th St Fort Meade, FL 33841 27.760         -81.802 Paterson Park in Peace River Watershed Good 8/28/2014
Ft Meade SE Patterson Park, W of bridge 521 4th St Fort Meade, FL 33841 27.760         -81.802 Aquatic Plants Good 8/28/2014
Gibson At boat ramp W side of lake 4901 Lake Gibson Park Rd 28.1044        -81.0506 Stormwater Runoff Fair, crazing 8/26/2014
Gibson At boat ramp W side of lake 4901 Lake Gibson Park Rd 28.1044        -81.0506 Lake Gibson Watershed Fair, crazing 8/26/2014
Hartridge Lake Hartridge Nature Park along path 0 Havendale Blvd Winter Haven 28.047          -81.748 Lake Hartridge Watershed Fair – Poor, bottom mold 5/27/2014
Hartridge Lake Hartridge Nature Park along path 0 Havendale Blvd Winter Haven 28.047          -81.748 Wading Birds Fair – Poor, bottom mold 5/27/2014
Hartridge Lake Hartridge Nature Park along path 0 Havendale Blvd Winter Haven 28.047          -81.748 Waterfowl Fair – Poor, bottom mold 5/27/2014
Hartridge Lake Hartridge Nature Park along path 0 Havendale Blvd Winter Haven 28.048          -81.749 Living in FreshWater Fair – Poor, bottom mold 5/27/2014
Hartridge Lake Hartridge Nature Park along path 0 Havendale Blvd Winter Haven 28.048          -81.749 Wetlands Fair – Poor, bottom mold 5/27/2014
Hollingsworth S of Lake H Dr @ Mississippi Ave 18 Lake H Drive Lakeland FL 33803 28.028          -81.950 Aquatic Plants Good 8/26/2014
Hollingsworth S of Lake H Dr @ Mississippi Ave 18 Lake H Drive Lakeland FL 33803 28.028          -81.950 Wildlife Good 8/26/2014
Hollingsworth S of Lake H Dr @ Mississippi Ave 18 Lake H Drive Lakeland FL 33803 28.028          -81.950 Healthy Land and Water Excellent  8/26/2014
Hollingsworth S of Lake H Dr E of Johnson Ave 821 Frank Lloyd Wright Way  Lakeland FL 33801 28.029         -81.949 Lake H Watershed Fair, crazing and faded 8/26/2014
Hollingsworth S of Lake H Dr E of Johnson Ave 821 Frank Lloyd Wright Way  Lakeland FL 33801 28.028         -81.949 Aquatic Plants Excellent  8/26/2014
Hollingsworth S of Lake H Dr E of Johnson Ave 821 Frank Lloyd Wright Way  Lakeland FL 33801 28.028         -81.949 Wildlife Excellent  8/26/2014
Hollingsworth S of Lake H Dr E of Johnson Ave 821 Frank Lloyd Wright Way  Lakeland FL 33801 28.028         -81.949 Stormwater Runoff Excellent  8/26/2014
Hollingsworth S of Lake H Dr E of Johnson Ave 821 Frank Lloyd Wright Way  Lakeland FL 33801 28.0285       -81.9490 Welcome to Southern Landing Excellent  8/26/2014
Howard Lake Howard Nature Park N of Lk Howard Dr 0 Lake Howard Dr, Winter Haven  28.015           -81.748 Aquatic Plants Good – Fair 5/27/2014
Howard Lake Howard Nature Park S end of parking lot 0 Lake Howard Dr, Winter Haven 28.014              -81.747 Lake Howard Watershed Good – Fair 5/27/2014
Howard Lake Howard Nature Park S end of parking lot 0 Lake Howard Dr, Winter Haven 28.014              -81.747 Stormwater Project Good – Fair 5/27/2014
Howard Lake Howard Nature Park S end of parking lot 0 Lake Howard Dr, Winter Haven 28.014              -81.747 Wildlife Good – Fair 5/27/2014
Howard Lake Howard Nature Park S end of Parking Lot 0 Lake Howard Dr, Winter Haven 28.014              -81.747 Aquatic Plants Good – Fair 5/27/2014
Hunter E of Lake Hunter Dr @    Cresap St 0 Lake Morton Dr Lakeland FL 33801 28.033         -81.962 Aquatic Plants Fair, crazing 8/26/2014
Hunter E of Lake Hunter Dr @   Cresap St 0 Lake Morton Dr Lakeland FL 33801 28.033         -81.962 Wildlife Poor, crazing 8/26/2014
Hunter At  boat ramp north end of lake Sikes Blvd Lakeland 33810 28.036         -81.961 Stormwater Runoff Poor, crazing 8/26/2014
Hunter At  boat ramp north end of lake Sikes Blvd Lakeland 33810 28.036         -81.961 Lake Hunter Watershed Poor, crazing 8/26/2014
John Peterson Park, South side by boardwalk and playground 3700 Cleveland Heights Blvd Lakeland FL 33803 27.9960       -81.9430 Healthy Land and Water Good, a little mold on bottom 8/26/2014
John 150ft N of JOHN-1 3700 Cleveland Heights Blvd Lakeland FL 33803 27.9960         -81.9432 Lake John Watershed Good, a little mold on bottom 8/26/2014
Maude Lake Maude Nature Park by walkway S of parking area 0 7 th St NW Winter Haven 28.039          -81.718 Lake Maude Watershed Good 8/22/2014
Maude Lake Maude Nature Park next to pier to south 0 7th St NW Winter Haven 28.039          -81.719 Living in the Water Good 8/22/2014
Maude Lake Maude Nature Park walkway to north 0 7th St NW Winter Haven 28.041          -81.719 Wading Birds Good 8/22/2014
Maude Lake Maude Nature Park By walkway by swings 0 7th St NW Winter Haven 28.051          -81.718 Alligators Good 8/22/2014
Maude Lake Maude Nature Park By walkway by swings 0 7th St NW Winter Haven 28.051          -81.718 Wetlands Good 8/22/2014
Maude Lake Maude Nature Park by north pier 0 7th St NW Winter Haven 28.042          -81.720 Alligators Poor, broken plexi cover 8/22/2014
Maude Lake Maude Nature Park by north pier 0 7th St NW Winter Haven 28.042          -81.720 Watching Wildlife Fair – Poor, mold or dirt 8/22/2014
Morton E of Lake Morton Dr @ Palmetto St 0 Lake Morton Dr Lakeland FL 33801 28.037         -81.950 Birds of Lake Morton Excellent  8/26/2014
Morton E of Lake Morton Dr @ Palmetto St 0 Lake Morton Dr Lakeland FL 33801 28.037         -81.950 Healthy Land and Water Excellent  8/26/2014
Parker Near Gate 1, N of boat ramp on trail 2001 Lakeland Hills Lakeland FL 33801 28.0786       -81.9456 Healthy Land and Water Good 8/26/2014
Parker Near Gate 1, N of boat ramp on trail 2001 Lakeland Hills Lakeland FL 33801 28.0786       -81.9456 Lake Parker Watershed Good 8/26/2014
Parker On trail nr Gate 2, N of PARK-1&2 2001 Lakeland Hills Lakeland FL 33801 28.0815       -81.9457 Wildlife Good 8/26/2014
Parker On trail nr Gate 2, N of PARK-1&2 2001 Lakeland Hills Lakeland FL 33801 28.0815       -81.9457 Aquatic Plants Good 8/26/2014
Parker Sertoma Park near boat ramp 1800 E Memorial Blvd Lakeland FL 33803 28.0520       -81.9284 Lake Parker connects to Peace River Fair, crazing, scratched 8/26/2014
Shipp Lake Shipp Park @ pier 1651 Lake Shipp Dr, Winter Haven 28.001          -81.737 Stormwater Runoff Good – Fair 5/23/2014
Shipp Lake Shipp Park @ pier 1651 Lake Shipp Dr, Winter Haven 28.001          -81.737 Lake Shipp Watershed Good – Fair 5/23/2014
Shipp Lake Shipp Park @ pier 1651 Lake Shipp Dr, Winter Haven 28.001          -81.737 Wildlife Good – Fair 5/23/2014
Shipp W.G. Poe Park near pavilion 2403 7th St NW, Winter Haven 28.000          -81.737 Stormwater Runoff Good – Fair 5/23/2014
Shipp W.G. Poe Park near pavilion 2403 7th St NW, Winter Haven 28.000          -81.737 Lake Shipp Watershed Good – Fair 5/23/2014
Silver South end Martin Luther King Jr Park N of boat ramp 0 3rd St NW Winter Haven 28.051          -81.731 Stormwater Runoff Good 8/22/2014
Silver South end Martin Luther King Jr Park N of boat ramp 0 3rd St NW Winter Haven 28.051          -81.731 Lake Silver Watershed Good 8/22/2014
Silver South end Martin Luther King Jr Park N of boat ramp 0 3rd St NW Winter Haven 28.051          -81.731 Aquatic Plants Good 8/22/2014
Silver South end Martin Luther King Jr Park N of boat ramp 0 3rd St NW Winter Haven 28.051          -81.731 Wildlife Good 8/22/2014
Somerset At boat ramp S of Glendale St 1605 Glendale St. Lakeland, FL 33803 28.0072       -81.9305 Better Boating Excellant 9/2/2014
Somerset At boat ramp S of Glendale St 1605 Glendale St. Lakeland, FL 33803 28.0072       -81.9305 Lake Somerset connects to Peace River Excellant 9/2/2014
Summit Lake Summit Park at boat ramp 0 Lake Summit Dr Winter Haven FL 33884 27.992         -81.697 Aquatic Plants Good 8/28/2014
Summit Lake Summit Park at boat ramp 0 Lake Summit Dr Winter Haven FL 33884 27.9920         -81.697 Water Pollution Good 8/28/2014
Summit Lake Summit Park at boat ramp 0 Lake Summit Dr Winter Haven FL 33884 27.992         -81.697 Lake Summit connects to Peace River Good 8/28/2014
Twin Lakes Twin Lakes Park 535 N Rochelle Dr Lake Alfred, FL 33850 28°05’51.95”N
81°43’38.57”W
Twin Lakes connects to Lake Swoope New 1/20/22

 

For a Printable List, Click HERE

 

Lakes Education Action Drive

The Board of Directors of LE/AD wants to thank the Southwest Florida Water Management District for partnering with us in replacing educational signage at Twin Lakes in Lake Alfred.

Over the years, LE/AD has taken the er…Lead in placing educational signage at various lakes throughout Polk County. Many of these signs are in need of replacement and the Twin Lakes is where we started.

New signs at Twin Lakes

At the bottom of this post you can see the old signs and why they needed to be replaced. But, here are the graphics up-close.

Again, thank you very much Southwest Florida Water Management District for your generous support!

Old Signage

Danny Kushmer