Our Lake of the Month for December 2013 is Lake Verona (set your GPS to 27.598

-81.497). The elevation of Lake Verona is 107’.

Lake Verona bathymetry map can be found at;

http://lakewatch.ifas.ufl.edu/RevisedMaps05/HighlandsMaps/VeronaHighlandsMap.pdf

Lake Verona is located within the city limits of Avon Park in Highlands County. The lake is surrounded by development. The Avon Park fireworks are shot from a barge in the middle of Lake Verona.

Although Lake Verona is only 41 acres in size, as a sinkhole lake it is very deep. Sinkhole lakes are formed when a limestone layer is dissolved by groundwater and collapses. Maximum depths are listed at 80 feet although county staff has driven over a hole measuring 87’ deep. Locals believe the lake is much deeper and connected to other lakes in the area via underground caves. This however has not yet been proven. Water enters the lake through rainfall, underground seepage (through soil), and storm water runoff.

Lake Verona is a ridge lake with a sandy bottom, low nutrients, and very clear water.

Visibility down to 15-20’ is not uncommon. Lake Verona is ideal for swimming and fishing. Occasionally boats and jet skis drive around the lake as well. There is a boat ramp located at the east end of East Church Street. There is a city owned park at 110 E. Main Street. The park has sheltered picnic tables, grills, restrooms, playground, and designated swim area. There are four tennis courts as well. Lake Verona becomes deep quickly so care should be taken while swimming.

Let’s go fishing. If you like fishing, Lake Verona is reported to support good populations of largemouth bass, bluegill, and crappie. Highlands County’s Parks and Natural Resources Department maintains one boat ramp on Lake Verona; located at East end of East Church Street. There are facilities associated with the park next door.

Lake Verona is infested with the Island Apple Snail, an exotic apple snail from South America. The Island Apple Snail (Pomacea insularum) was originally thought to be the channeled apple snail. This snail was probably released in south Florida in the early 1980s by persons with the tropical pet industry, and rapidly expanded throughout the state. They are now found in Alabama, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, North Carolina, South Carolina and Texas. Introductions have occurred in Arizona, California and Hawaii. The eggs of this large baseball sized snail are bumblegum pink, very small, and very numerous. The native apple snail eggs appear very light pink to white and they are much larger. Some fishermen break open the snails and use them for bait. If you do this please be sure you are not killing the native apple snail (any snail the size of your fist is the exotic and in Verona we have not observed the native snail in a few years).

The water quality of Lake Verona is good. Important measures of water quality are total phosphorus, total nitrogen, and chlorophyll a. The measure of these three nutrients on Lake Verona is good. Another important measure is transparency. The average transparency of Lake Verona is 14 feet however readings can sometimes be 20+ feet.

Lake Verona swim beach at Donaldson Park.

Island Apple Snail, Lake Verona, Avon Park, Florida. These freshwater snails can be the size of a baseball. The egg clusters are bubblegum pink and very numerous.

Lake Verona, Avon Park, Florida from Donaldson Park.