UF IFAS Florida LAKEWATCH

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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🤎 Tricolored HeronFeeding Fact: Tricolored Herons dash and pivot through shallow waters, chasing small fish and aquatic ...
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

🔬 Ask the Expert: From Shore to StreamWhat are microplastics, where do they come from, and why should we care? In this m...
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

🌟 Dollar Sunfish Fun Fact 🌟Dollar sunfish may be small, but they’re one of Florida’s most eye‑catching freshwater fish. ...
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/

💙 Thank you and farewell, Marina! 💙 We are incredibly grateful to Marina Schwartz for her years of dedication to Florida...
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

🤍 Snowy EgretFeeding Fact: Snowy Egrets stalk shallow waters, using quick foot shuffles to stir up fish, insects, and cr...
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

🎉 Welcome to LAKEWATCH, Casey! 🎉We’re excited to introduce Casey Harris, our new Data Manager for Florida LAKEWATCH. Wit...
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

🌟 Chain Pickerel Fun Fact 🌟Chain pickerel are sleek, fast predators often found lurking among aquatic vegetation in Flor...
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/

🩶 Sandhill CraneFeeding Fact: Sandhill Cranes forage in fields and wetlands for plants, grains, insects, snails, amphibi...
04/30/2026

🩶 Sandhill Crane

Feeding Fact: Sandhill Cranes forage in fields and wetlands for plants, grains, insects, snails, amphibians, and small vertebrates, helping them thrive in natural and human‑made landscapes. 🌾🐌🦗

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

Florida Fish Spotlight: Seminole Killifish!Florida’s waters are home to some truly unique species, and the Seminole Kill...
04/28/2026

Florida Fish Spotlight: Seminole Killifish!

Florida’s waters are home to some truly unique species, and the Seminole Killifish is one of them. This Florida endemic is one of only three fish species found nowhere else in the world.

Written by Dan Willis, LAKEWATCH Regional Coordinator, this feature highlights what makes the Seminole Killifish so special, from its distinctive copper-green coloring and upturned mouth to its important role as a key food source for larger predatory fish. The article also explores where this species lives, what it eats, and why it matters to fisheries science, anglers, and even aquaculture.

👉 Learn more about the Seminole Killifish:
https://new.express.adobe.com/webpage/RA0KaL1Nu3I28 -killifish

A great read for anyone interested in Florida’s native aquatic life and the small fish that support healthy ecosystems.

🌟 Brown Bullhead Fun Fact 🌟Brown Bullheads are hardy catfish commonly found in Florida’s ponds, lakes, and slow rivers. ...
04/23/2026

🌟 Brown Bullhead Fun Fact 🌟

Brown Bullheads are hardy catfish commonly found in Florida’s ponds, lakes, and slow rivers. They use sensitive barbels to detect food in murky water and feed on insects, small fish, crustaceans, and plant material. Their adaptability allows them to thrive in a wide range of freshwater habitats. 🌿🐟

Interested in more freshwater fish from Florida? 🐠📚

The Handbook of Common Freshwater Fish in Florida Lakes features data from 60 North Central Florida lakes surveyed 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/

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7922 NW 71st Street
Gainesville, FL
32653

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