Lakes Management
Welcome
Osceola County has over 50 named lakes which provide the greatest natural resource and has world renown chain of lakes within its region. Lakes have environmental significance, and provide economic value. Osceola County lakes provide sources of recreation, scenic beauty, and a habitat for many different types of wildlife, as well as fisheries and bass tournaments. Come, and see nature’s beauty at its best!
Overview
The Mission of Osceola County’s Lakes Management Program is to protect, enhance, conserve, restore and manage the county’s aquatic resources through education, coordination, development, maintenance, and management of lake systems; which considers the need for protection of the natural environment and improves, enhances and/or sustains lake ecosystem health while avoiding impacts to downstream systems for the benefit of the fish and wildlife resources and the residents of and visitors to Osceola County.
Interagency Coordination
The County does not act alone in lakes management. The lakes in Osceola County are considered "Waters of the State"; therefore coordination among numerous government agencies is necessary to ensure the success of lake management responsibilities and activities. Partners include:
Florida Department of Environmental Protection
DEP maintains water quality monitoring activities, develops total maximum daily loads (TMDLs) for verified impaired water bodies, and develops Basin Management Action Plans (BMAPs) that will include management measures expected to restore water quality. DEP also oversees the NPDES program in Florida.
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
FWC manages aquatic plants, especially invasive aquatic plants, to conserve the various combined uses and functions of public lakes within the Kissimmee Chain of Lakes management area.
South Florida Water Management District
The SFWMD manages and protects water resources of the South Florida region by balancing and improving water quality, flood control, natural systems, and water supply.
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
While the SFWMD physically manages the water levels in the lakes by opening or closing the water control structures, the Water Management Section of the ACOE monitors and manages the multi-purpose operations of spillways, locks, pump stations, culverts, canals, reservoirs, and water conservation areas.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
USFWS develops mitigation plans that avoid, minimize, or compensate for impact to wetlands and ensure that fish and wildlife resources receive equal consideration in water resource planning activities.
Lakes Management
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