Regulatory protection and definition for recreational uses of Florida lakes

Abstract

National- and state-level water quality policies clearly set forth the intention to protect recreational uses of lakes. Nevertheless, the Clean Water Act, the Florida Water Resources Act, and Florida's Surface Water Quality Standards fail to define recreational uses of lakes. This research presents a generalized definition for recreational uses of Florida lakes and a quantification of the proportion of Floridians that recreate in lakes. Data collected from a survey of 503 Floridians indicate that approximately 23% of Floridians participate in lake-based recreation. A derived definition for the recreational use of Florida lakes, in order of reported use frequency, is “recreation activities of Florida lakes include, but are not limited to, relaxing, boating, fishing, viewing nature, picnicking, swimming, camping, tubing, hunting, wakeboarding, diving, and water skiing.” This generalized definition highlights the diversity of activities occurring in Florida lakes and can inform the regulatory process related to the management of lake water nutrient concentrations. As Florida moves forward in establishing management strategies for its surface waters, defining recreational uses for its diverse set of lakes is imperative to their protection.