Lake Conine

Lake Conine is a natural freshwater lake on the north side of Winter Haven, Florida. The lake is not within the city limits, but is almost entirely surrounded by the city of Winter Haven. Lake Conine is almost as often called Lake Connie as it is called Lake Conine. In fact, the Fishing Works website site has two listings calling this lake the former name and one calling it the latter. Lake Conine is bounded on the north and southwest by residential areas. On the west and southeast are woods. On the east the lake is bordered by SR 544 (Lucerne Park Road). Lake Conine has a 237-acre (960,000 m²) surface area and it is shaped somewhat like a teardrop.^[5][6][7]

For many years Lake Conine received wastewater effluent. A study commissioned by Polk County in 1994 found the high level of effluent resulted in nutrient recycling from lake bottom sediments. The county paid the company that performed the lake research to apply liquid aluminum sulfate to the lake's surface to inactivate the nutrient recycling process, thus repairing the damage the wastewater effluent had caused. The whole project was completed in 1996.^[8]

Lake Conine has no public swimming areas or public boat ramps. However, boaters may reach the lake from public ramps in other area lakes. This lake is connected into the Chain of Lakes. canal system, which links numerous area lakes. Lake Conine may be reached by canals from Lake Smart, Lake Rochelle and Lake Hartridge. Fishing is allowed and can be done by boat or shore. There is a large public right of way along SR 544. The Hook and Bullet website says the lake contains black drum, bigmouth buffalo and atlantic salmon.^[9][10][11]

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