The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) will begin a major aquatic habitat restoration effort on Lake Istokpoga this month.

The FWC is planting more than 140,000 native aquatic plants on Lake Istokpoga, a 28,000-acre natural lake in Highlands County, to help restore this popular, shallow sportfishing lake. FWC contractors will be planting 34,000 jointed spikerush, 34,000 maidencane (commonly known as Kissimmee grass) and 34,000 duck-potato plants along the lake’s eastern, western and northern shorelines. 

The FWC is also planting 9,000 biodegradable pots containing 36,000 Illinois pondweed (also known as peppergrass) plants, a submersed native species, along the south end of Bumblebee Island.

These native aquatic plants will serve as valuable food and nesting habitat for many fish and wildlife species, including the endangered Everglade snail kite, and sportfish including largemouth bass, crappie and panfish.

This aquatic habitat restoration project is designed to enhance the diversity of the native plant community in the lake’s shallow-water marshes as part of ongoing restoration and habitat enhancement activities for Lake Istokpoga.

This work is being completed following recommendations from stakeholders found in the Lake Istokpoga Habitat Management Plan, which aims to increase native submersed and emergent aquatic vegetation through revegetation efforts and reduction of invasive plant species.

For general waterbody information, fishing forecasts, virtual tours, plant control operation schedules and annual workplans, boat ramp information, and more, visit the “What’s Happening on My Lake” website at MyFWC.com/Lakes.

TrophyCatch Update

Lake Istokpoga has one special largemouth bass swimming in it right now! This pink-tagged bass is worth thousands of dollars in prizes as part of a special TrophyCatch promotion. Visit the 10-tag webpage on TrophyCatch.com for the list of all 10 waterbodies and for rules on how to participate.