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Lakes Education/Action Drive

Contact information, map and directions, contact form, opening hours, services, ratings, photos, videos and announcements from Lakes Education/Action Drive, Nonprofit Organization, Lakeland, FL.

LE/AD, a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving and preserving the natural beauty and quality of lakes and waterways all over Polk County and Central Florida.

04/05/2026

Some aerial footage of yesterday’s MyFWC Florida Fish and Wildlife youth fishing derby. The weather was beautiful and there were a lot of activities for the whole family.

03/27/2026

LEAD will be exhibiting at the MyFWC Florida Fish and Wildlife annual youth (15 and under) fishing derby on Saturday, April 4th. Registration is required; lunch will be provided. To register, call 863-648-3200. No license is required, and loaner rods are available. There will also be activities for folks not participating in the derby.
Please like and share to get the word out. Thank you, Publix, for sponsoring this event.

01/26/2026

Speckled Perch – A Florida Treasure! 🐟

Did you know that the black crappie, also known as speckled perch or “specks,” is one of Florida’s most valued fish? Here are some fun facts about this incredible fish beyond just fishing!

✨ Common Names: Known by many names such as papermouth, bachelor perch, calico bass, and strawberry bass. It's a true Floridian icon!

🎨 Appearance: With its silvery-green to yellowish body, large fins, and distinctive black blotches, the speckled perch is easy to spot in Florida’s clear lakes and rivers.

🏞️ Habitat: These beauties thrive in natural lakes, reservoirs, and slow-moving rivers with moderate vegetation. They prefer clear waters that aren’t too murky.

🌱 Spawning: From February to April, when the water warms to 62-65°F, male crappies create circular nests in shallow waters—usually around submerged plants. A true family affair!

⚖️ Bag Limits: To protect these special fish, the daily bag limit is 25 per person, with a two-day possession limit for licensed anglers.

The black crappie is more than just a fish—it's a vital part of Florida’s natural ecosystem. Whether you're spotting them in the wild or admiring them from the shore, the speckled perch is a reminder of our state’s rich aquatic life.

01/19/2026

🌼 American Lotus: A Show-Stopping Champion of Florida’s Wetlands 🌿💧

The American lotus (Nelumbo lutea) is one of Florida’s most striking native aquatic plants—gracing ponds, lakes, and slow-moving waters with its glowing yellow blooms from May through August. Found in shallow or muddy waters up to 6 feet deep, this majestic plant is easy to spot thanks to its giant circular leaves, umbrella-like stalks, and iconic cone-shaped seed pods (often seen in floral arrangements!).

🌱 A Powerful Protector of Wetlands
Beyond its beauty, the American lotus plays a vital role in wetland health. Its extensive root system helps stabilize soil, preventing shoreline erosion and supporting cleaner, clearer water. This makes it an important species in conservation and restoration efforts across Florida.

🐟 Habitat Support
Its floating leaves and underwater structure create habitat for fish, insects, and other aquatic wildlife—adding to the biodiversity that keeps wetlands thriving.

⚠️ A Note on Growth
While highly beneficial, American lotus can spread quickly in shallow waters. In smaller ponds or man-made water features, occasional management or thinning may be needed to keep it balanced with other native plants.

The American lotus is a stunning symbol of Florida’s wetland beauty—working quietly beneath the surface to protect, nourish, and sustain our aquatic ecosystems.

01/12/2026

🐟🎣 Florida’s Legendary Largemouth Bass — A True Freshwater Icon!
(Micropterus salmoides)

Did you know Florida is home to its very own species of largemouth bass? Recently recognized as distinct from the northern largemouth bass, the Florida largemouth bass is famous for its impressive size, strength, and fierce fighting spirit — making it a favorite among anglers from around the world.

🌿 Overview
As Florida’s official state freshwater fish, this bass can grow over 20 inches long and exceed 15 pounds. With its trademark oversized mouth (stretching past the eye) and a deep notch in its dorsal fin, it’s built perfectly for ambush hunting in our diverse freshwater habitats.

🌾 Habitat & Distribution
Florida largemouth bass thrive in:
• Lakes
• Ponds
• Rivers
• Vegetation-rich waters with plenty of underwater structure

Their adaptability allows them to flourish throughout the state, especially in areas with healthy vegetation that provides cover and nursery habitat.

🎣 Fishing & Conservation
This iconic fish plays a major role in Florida’s recreational fishing industry. Programs like TrophyCatch celebrate anglers who catch and release bass weighing 8 lbs or more, helping promote conservation-minded fishing. Maintaining healthy habitats and strong populations is essential — both for ecosystems and for the anglers who love chasing these giants.

🔬 A Species of Its Own
In 2024, new research led to the Florida largemouth bass being officially recognized as separate from the northern largemouth bass. This Florida strain grows larger and faster, contributing to the state’s reputation for producing record-breaking catches.

💧 Why It Matters
From its ecological importance to its cultural significance, the Florida largemouth bass is a symbol of our state’s freshwater beauty. Protecting its habitat helps ensure that future generations can enjoy the thrill of seeing — and catching — this incredible fish.

Let’s work together to keep Florida’s waterways healthy and thriving. 💙🌿

01/05/2026

🌿 Cinnamon Fern: A Florida Wetland Essential 🌧️✨

Cinnamon fern (Osmundastrum cinnamomeum) is a beautiful and beneficial native fern that thrives in Florida’s wetlands. Found in swamps, bogs, and along stream banks, this plant loves moist, acidic soil and prefers partial to full shade—making it perfectly suited to the lush, cool understory of wetland habitats.

🌱 A Protector of Wetland Soil
With its dense root system, cinnamon fern helps stabilize soil and prevent erosion in sensitive wet areas. Its presence along stream banks and bog edges keeps these habitats intact and resilient.

💧 Nature’s Filter
This fern also contributes to cleaner water by helping filter pollutants as water moves through wetland soils, supporting overall watershed health.

🦋 Habitat for Wildlife
Cinnamon fern provides shelter and habitat for insects, birds, amphibians, and small mammals. Its lush fronds create hiding places and microhabitats essential for wetland biodiversity.

As a hardy native plant, cinnamon fern plays a crucial role in maintaining Florida’s wetland ecosystems—supporting wildlife, improving water quality, and enhancing the natural beauty of our landscapes.

01/01/2026

🎉💧 Happy New Year from Lakes Education Action Drive! 💧🎉

As we welcome a brand-new year, we want to share our sincere gratitude with all of our followers, partners, and sponsors. Your support empowers our mission to protect, preserve, and promote the health of our beautiful lakes through education and community engagement.

Thank you for standing with us in 2025 — we’re excited for the opportunities, growth, and inspiration that 2026 will bring!

🌟 Wishing you a healthy, joyful, and successful New Year!
— The Lakes Education Action Drive Team

12/29/2025

🐸💧 Meet the American Bullfrog — Florida’s Big-Voiced Wetland Resident! 💧🐸
(Lithobates catesbeianus)

If you’ve ever heard a deep “jug o’ rum” echoing across a pond on a warm night, you’ve met one of Florida’s most recognizable amphibians — the American Bullfrog!

📏 Size
These impressive frogs usually measure 3–6 inches, but some can reach up to 8 inches — making them one of North America’s largest frogs.

🔍 How to Identify One
The American Bullfrog has:
• A greenish body and whitish belly
• A dark, net-like pattern on its back and underside
• Thighs covered with tiny light spots
• Large eardrums and fully webbed hind feet — trademarks of “true frogs”
• Hind toes that extend beyond the webbing

They’re often confused with Pig Frogs, but there’s a trick: Pig Frogs have bold light stripes or spots on their thighs, while bullfrogs have many tiny, light speckles.

🎶 Breeding & Calls
Breeding peaks in late spring and summer, but in the South it can start earlier and run into fall. Females lay eggs in a large surface film on the water.
Their call — a deep, rumbling bass — is unmistakable. Want to hear it? Visit the USGS Frog Call Lookup and choose “American Bullfrog” from the list!

🍽️ What They Eat
Bullfrogs are bold predators, feeding on:
• Insects
• Crayfish
• Fish
• Amphibians
• Small reptiles
• Even small mammals

Their appetite is as big as their voice!

🏞️ Where They Live
In Florida, bullfrogs are commonly found in northern and central regions, living in and around:
• Small isolated wetlands
• Pond edges
• Lakes
• Vegetated canals
• Ditches

Wherever there’s still, shallow water — you might find a bullfrog close by.

Florida’s wetlands are full of incredible species like this one. Let’s keep exploring, appreciating, and protecting the habitats they depend on. 💙🌿

12/25/2025

🎄✨ Merry Christmas from Lakes Education Action Drive! ✨🎄

As we wrap up another wonderful year, we want to extend our warmest holiday wishes to all of our followers, partners, and sponsors. Your support helps us continue our mission of protecting our beautiful lakes and inspiring our community through education and action.

May this season bring you joy, peace, and time spent with the people who matter most. Thank you for being an important part of our LE/AD family — we couldn’t do this without you! ❤️💧

🎁 Wishing you a Very Merry Christmas!
— The Lakes Education Action Drive Team

12/22/2025

🌺 Swamp Hibiscus: A Wetland Beauty with Big Benefits 🌿💧

Swamp hibiscus—also known as scarlet rosemallow, marsh hibiscus, or swamp mallow—is one of Florida’s most stunning native wetland plants. Growing 4–8 feet tall with large, vibrant pink to scarlet blooms, this herbaceous perennial doesn’t just turn heads… it supports the entire ecosystem.

🌱 Wetland Habitat Hero
Thriving along pond edges, streams, and other moist habitats, swamp hibiscus helps stabilize soil, prevent erosion, and maintain healthy wetland banks. Although it’s native to wet areas, it can also tolerate somewhat drier soils, making it wonderfully versatile in landscapes.

🦋 A Magnet for Wildlife
Swamp hibiscus is a larval host plant for several butterfly and moth species—including the Gray Hairstreak, Painted Lady, Common Checkered Skipper, and Tropical Checkered Skipper. Its nectar-rich blooms also draw in butterflies, bees, and even hummingbirds, boosting local biodiversity.

🌼 Beauty with Purpose
Blooming from mid-summer to early fall, its showy flowers keep wetlands and gardens vibrant even as the seasons shift. This plant works beautifully as an accent, border, or mass planting—especially in moist, partially shaded areas.

With its ecological benefits, wildlife value, and bold color, swamp hibiscus is a true Florida native treasure. 🌞🌺

12/15/2025

🐇💧 Meet Florida’s Marsh Rabbit — the Wetland Hopper! 💧🐇

Florida is home to a unique little resident you may have seen but not recognized — the marsh rabbit! While it resembles the familiar eastern cottontail, this species is smaller, darker, and sports a subtle gray-brown tail instead of the classic cotton puff.

🌿 Where They Live
Marsh rabbits are found throughout Florida, but unlike their cottontail cousins, they’re excellent swimmers and stick close to water. Their preferred homes include:
• Fresh and brackish marshes
• Wet prairies
• Flooded agricultural fields

🌙 Life in the Wetlands
These rabbits stay busy during the night, dawn, and dusk, feeding on a wide variety of wetland plants — and keeping an eye out for predators like owls, foxes, bobcats, and even alligators.

🐣 A Productive Little Hopper
Breeding happens year-round, peaking from December through June. A single female can raise 6–7 litters each year, each with 2–4 young. Nests are tucked away safely on the ground in thickets, logs, or stumps and lined with grass and soft fur. By the time they’re four weeks old, young marsh rabbits are fully weaned and ready to forage on their own.

🌪️ Challenges They Face
Hurricanes and coastal flooding can seriously impact marsh rabbit populations — especially vulnerable nestlings. Protecting and maintaining healthy wetland habitats helps give these unique rabbits a fighting chance.

Florida’s wetlands support amazing wildlife, and the marsh rabbit is just one of the many species that call these ecosystems home. Let’s keep learning, appreciating, and protecting these special places. 💙🌾

Address

Lakeland, FL
33807

Website

http://www.lakeseducation.org/

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