The Charlotte Harbor Watershed is located within CHNEP and spans 350.0 square miles. The watershed contains 13 named lakes/ponds, 21 named rivers/streams/canals and 5 named bays/bayous. The Charlotte Harbor Watershed encompasses 3 major drainage basins, including the Charlotte Harbor Basin, Peace River Basin, and Myakka River Basin. Fresh water from the Peace and Myakka rivers mixes with salt water coming through Boca Grande Pass from the Gulf of Mexico to form the Charlotte Harbor Estuary.
Charlotte Harbor Watershed contains these basins:
View Maps / Data
CHNEP's Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan (CCMP) identified four action plans: water quality improvement; hydrological restoration; fish, wildlife, and habitat improvement; and public engagement. Click on the interactive maps below to view data associated with these goals and actions.
Water Quality
Hydrology
Wildlife/Habitats
Climate Change
View Detailed Data About the Following Topics:
Recreation
Find maps and waterway navigation guides, descriptions of facilities and recreational amenities, as well as warnings and restrictions pertaining to their use.
- 2022 Annual Review of Redfish Management Metrics - Charlotte Harbor (myfwc.com)
- A Recreational Boating Characterization for the Greater Charlotte Harbor
- Brownville Park, DeSoto County
- Charlotte County Environmental Parks & Preserves
- Charlotte County Fishing, Boat Ramps, & Kayak Launches
- Charlotte County Manatee Protection Zones
- Charlotte County Parks & Recreation Blueways Trails
- Charlotte County Parks & Recreation Finder
- Florida Circumnavigational Saltwater Paddling Trail Segment 11: Charlotte Harbor
- Myakka River State Park
- Peace River Paddling Trail
- Public Access Lakes Directory of Ramps and Canals, Polk County
- Recreation Guide to Southwest Florida Water Management District Lands
- Winter Haven Parks, Trails & Boat Ramps
Photos
Click on a thumbnail photograph to view the full size version with credits and a description.
A reddish egret strolling with white pelicans
Credit: Andy Glogower
Abandoned fishing line
Credit: Coastal & Heartland National Estuary Partnership
Abandoned fishing line
Credit: Coastal & Heartland National Estuary Partnership
Aerial view in Hardee County
Credit: Coastal & Heartland National Estuary Partnership
Aerial view in Highlands County
Credit: Coastal & Heartland National Estuary Partnership
Aerial view of Arcadia
Credit: Coastal & Heartland National Estuary Partnership
Aerial view of ponds around Bartow
Credit: Coastal & Heartland National Estuary Partnership
Aerial view of Winter Haven downtown
Credit: Coastal & Heartland National Estuary Partnership
Alligator Lake (Babcock Webb WMA)
Credit: Coastal & Heartland National Estuary Partnership
Armadillo Pair at Babcock-Webb WMA
Credit: Debra Peterson
Babcock Webb WMA
Credit: John Carney
Babcock Webb WMA
Credit: Sarina Weiss
Babcock Webb WMA
Credit: Sarina Weiss
Babcock Webb WMA
Credit: Sarina Weiss
Babcock Webb WMA
Credit: Sarina Weiss
Babcock Webb WMA
Credit: Sarina Weiss
Babcock Webb WMA
Credit: Sarina Weiss
Babcock Webb WMA
Credit: Sarina Weiss
Babcock Webb WMA
Credit: Sarina Weiss
Baby alligators at Circle B Bar Reserve
Credit: Sally Weigand
Barred Owl at Highlands Hammock State Park
Credit: Sheri Nadelman
Bay aerial
Credit: Coastal & Heartland National Estuary Partnership
Black Swallowtail Butterfly
Credit: Jerry Waters
Black-Bellied Whistling Ducks
Credit: Steve Griffin
Black-crowned Night Heron
Credit: Robin Hagan
Bobcat in DeSoto County
Credit: Coastal & Heartland National Estuary Partnership
Boca Grande Lighthouse
Credit: Coastal & Heartland National Estuary Partnership
Boca Grande Marina
Credit: Coastal & Heartland National Estuary Partnership
Casting at Sunset
Credit: Coastal & Heartland National Estuary Partnership
Circle B Bar Preserve
Credit: Jeff Spence
Coreopsis at Myakka River State Park
Credit: Jerry Waters
Fisherman at sunset
Credit: Coastal & Heartland National Estuary Partnership
Fishing on the Myakka River
Credit: Gary Warren
Flooded Horse Creek
Credit: Bill Byle
Florida Scrub Jay at Highlands Hammock State Park
Credit: Sheri Nadelman
Gator blowing bubbles
Credit: John Guiseppi
Glossy Ibis at Circle B Bar Reserve
Credit: Steve Griffin
Goliath Grouper
Credit: Coastal & Heartland National Estuary Partnership
Gopher Tortoise
Credit: Debra Peterson
Gray Fox and kit in Polk County
Credit: Lynette Spence
Great Blue Heron at Circle B Bar Reserve
Credit: John Guiseppi
Great Blue Heron at Circle B Bar Reserve
Credit: Jeff Spence
Great Blue Heron at sunrise, at Circle B Bar Reserve
Credit: Megan Drumheller
Great Blue Heron tangled with a Florida Green Water Snake
Credit: Andy Glogower
Great Blue Heron with Chicks
Credit: Maryle Barbe
Great egret on the Peace River
Credit: Coastal & Heartland National Estuary Partnership
Great Egrets on Lake Hancock
Credit: Jeff Spence
Great Horned Owl at Circle B Bar Reserve
Credit: Joel Riloff
Great Horned Owls at Ollie's Pond
Credit: Joel Riloff
Highlands Hammock State Park
Credit: Melissa Herrick
Historic Fishing Cabins in Bull Bay
Credit: Sarina Weiss
Horseshoe Crabs
Credit: Sierra Moen
Juvenile alligator in Peace River
Credit: Marc Pletcher
Lest Tern Chicks in Charlotte County
Credit: Mary Lundeberg
Limpkin at Circle B Bar Reserve
Credit: Robin Hagan
Live oaks and Spanish moss at Circle B Bar Reserve
Credit: Sally Weigand
Marsh Rice Rat at Circle B Bar Reserve
Credit: Megan Drumheller
Mating Pair of Osceola Turkeys
Credit: Marc Pletcher
Milky Way over DeSoto County
Credit: Jerry Waters
Morning light in the Myakka River forest
Credit: Jeffrey Spence
Myakka River
Credit: Jerry Waters
Ospreys near Peace River
Credit: Steve Richardson
Peace River sunrise
Credit: Coastal & Heartland National Estuary Partnership
Pelican flying over surf
Credit: Thierry Butler
Pond in a park in Arcadia
Credit: Coastal & Heartland National Estuary Partnership
Raccoons at Myakka River
Credit: Lisa Rogers
Raccoon at Myakka River State Park
Credit: Butch McDaniel
Red mangrove, tidal Peace River
Credit: Coastal & Heartland National Estuary Partnership
Red Shouldered Hawk at Myakka River State Park
Credit: Barbara Presner-McKane
Roseate Spoonbill at Circle B Bar Reserve
Credit: Jeff Spence
Sandhill Crane Family at Shell Creek
Credit: Cara Czecholisnski
Sunset at Boca Grande
Credit: Dennis Berry
Spoonbill at Circle B Bar Reserve
Credit: Steve Griffin
Sunset at Circle B Bar Reserve
Credit: Steven Richardson
Sunset at Pine Island Sound
Credit: Coastal & Heartland National Estuary Partnership
Teneroc Fish Management Area
Credit: Steven Richardson
Thunderstorm over Pine Island Sound
Credit: Steve Russell
Turkey in DeSoto County
Credit: Kerry Bowers
Turtle at Webb Lake
Credit: Debra Peterson
Sunrise over Estero Bay Aquatic Preserve
Credit: Photo courtesy Estero Bay Aquatic Preserve
Wading Birds at Circle B Bar Reserve
Credit: Jeff Spence
Wading birds at Lake Hancock
Credit: Jeff Spence
White-Tailed Deer at Myakka River State Park
Credit: Jonathan Crossman
Yellow Rat Snake
Credit: George Quittner
Yucca Pens
Credit: Alexis Horn
Yucca Pens
Credit: Alexis Horn
Yucca Pens
Credit: Alexis Horn
Yucca Pens
Credit: Alexis Horn