UF IFAS Florida LAKEWATCH

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UF IFAS Florida LAKEWATCH

In 1991, the Florida Legislature recognized the importance of the program and established Florida LAKEWATCH in the state statutes (Florida Statute 1004.49.).

Florida LAKEWATCH is a citizen volunteer lake monitoring program that facilitates "hands-on" citizen participation in the management of Florida lakes, estuaries, rivers and springs through monthly monitoring activities. Coordinated through the University of Florida's Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences/FFGS Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences, the program has been in existence since 1986. LAKEW

ATCH is now one of the largest lake monitoring programs in the nation with over 1800 trained citizens currently monitoring 525 lakes, 175 estuary stations, 125 river stations, 20 coastal dune lakes and 10 spring runs in 57 counties.

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06/04/2026

Eastern mosquitofish are the fish you notice in mucky ditches and pond edges when everything else has checked out. Fun fact: they can breathe at the surface using a modified swim bladder. Scrappy, weird, and hard to ignore.

06/02/2026

🔍 From Ellen Swallow Richards to LAKEWATCH: A Legacy of Water Monitoring

Long before volunteer monitoring programs existed, Ellen Swallow Richards helped lay the foundation for how we measure and understand water quality today. Her work in the late 1800s established the core principles of environmental monitoring: consistent methods, many sites, and long-term data.
As Florida LAKEWATCH celebrates 40 years, this article by M.S. student Abigail Belchior reflects on how Richards’ vision lives on through our volunteers. Each water sample, Secchi depth, and dataset collected continues a powerful scientific tradition rooted in careful observation and service to the public.

📖 Read the full story:
https://new.express.adobe.com/webpage/RA0KaL1Nu3I28 -ellen-swallow-richards-to-lakewatch

📸 Photo caption:
Ellen Swallow Richards later in her career. Photograph from the George Grantham Bain Collection, Library of Congress.

05/28/2026

🤎 Tricolored Heron

Feeding Fact: Tricolored Herons dash and pivot through shallow waters, chasing small fish and aquatic insects. Their fast, agile hunting sets them apart from other wading birds. 🐟🦗

📘 Learn more: https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/FA229

05/26/2026

🔬 Ask the Expert: From Shore to Stream

What are microplastics, where do they come from, and why should we care? In this month’s Ask the Expert, Dr. Anna Braswell breaks down the microplastic challenge in our water and highlights current monitoring and solutions in Florida.

📖 Read more: https://new.express.adobe.com/webpage/RA0KaL1Nu3I28 -shore-to-stream

05/21/2026

🌟 Dollar Sunfish Fun Fact 🌟

Dollar sunfish may be small, but they’re one of Florida’s most eye‑catching freshwater fish. Their round, disk‑shaped bodies glow with vibrant blues, greens, and oranges, especially during breeding season. They prefer shallow, vegetated waters and feed on insects and small invertebrates. 🐟🌿
These colorful sunfish are a great indicator of healthy, plant‑rich habitats.

Curious about the diverse fish species in Florida’s lakes? 🐠📚

Check out the Handbook of Common Freshwater Fish in Florida Lakes! This guide summarizes fisheries data collected from 60 North Central Florida lakes between 1986 and 1990. 📊🌿

🔗 https://ufdc.ufl.edu/UF00000131/00001/images/1

📸 Zach Randall, Florida Museum of Natural History
https://www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/discover-fish/florida-fishes-gallery/

05/19/2026

💙 Thank you and farewell, Marina! 💙

We are incredibly grateful to Marina Schwartz for her years of dedication to Florida LAKEWATCH. From volunteer support to modernizing our data systems and launching our interactive dashboard, Marina’s impact on the program has been lasting and meaningful. We wish her all the best in her next chapter!

📖 Read more about Marina’s contributions here: https://new.express.adobe.com/webpage/RA0KaL1Nu3I28 -updates

05/14/2026

🤍 Snowy Egret
Feeding Fact: Snowy Egrets stalk shallow waters, using quick foot shuffles to stir up fish, insects, and crustaceans before striking with precision. This active feeding style makes them a joy to watch. 🐟🦐
📘 Learn more: https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/FA229

05/12/2026

🎉 Welcome to LAKEWATCH, Casey! 🎉

We’re excited to introduce Casey Harris, our new Data Manager for Florida LAKEWATCH. With extensive experience in long-term water quality datasets and a recent PhD from UF, Casey is bringing strong expertise to support and grow our data management and sharing efforts. We’re thrilled to have her on the team!

📖 Learn more here: https://new.express.adobe.com/webpage/RA0KaL1Nu3I28 -updates

05/07/2026

🌟 Chain Pickerel Fun Fact 🌟

Chain pickerel are sleek, fast predators often found lurking among aquatic vegetation in Florida’s lakes, rivers, and wetlands. Their distinctive chain‑like pattern helps them blend in as they ambush prey like small fish and insects. Despite their fierce reputation, chain pickerel play an important role in keeping fish communities balanced. 🐟🌿

Curious about the diverse fish species in Florida’s lakes? 🐠📚

Check out the Handbook of Common Freshwater Fish in Florida Lakes! This guide summarizes fisheries data collected from 60 North Central Florida lakes between 1986 and 1990. 📊🌿

🔗 https://ufdc.ufl.edu/UF00000131/00001/images/1

📸 Zach Randall, Florida Museum of Natural History
https://www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/discover-fish/florida-fishes-gallery/

Address

7922 NW 71st Street
Gainesville, FL
32653

Telephone

+18005253928

Website

https://linktr.ee/ufifaslakewatch

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