Newnans Lake

Newnans Lake

Looking east from Earl P. Powers Park
Location Gainesville, Florida
Coordinates 29°39′02″N 82°13′06″W / 29.65056°N 82.21833°W / 29.65056; -82.21833Coordinates: 29°39′02″N 82°13′06″W / 29.65056°N 82.21833°W / 29.65056; -82.21833
Type eutrophic[1]
Primary outflows Prairie Creek[1]
Catchment area 308 km2 (119 sq mi)[1]
Basin countries United States
Surface area 3,042 ha (7,520 acres)[1]
Average depth 1.5 m (4.9 ft)[1]
Max. depth 3.6 m (12 ft)[1]
Water volume 58,000,000 m³[1]
Residence time 0.6 years[1]
Surface elevation 66 ft (20 m)[2]

Newnans Lake (or Newnan's Lake) is a lake located off State Road 20, east of Gainesville, Florida. Approximately 1.12 miles (2 km) wide, Newnans Lake is home to many forms of wildlife, and had been designated as a protected site by Alachua County. It was earlier known as Lake Pithlachocco.

Before 1927, the lake drained into Paines Prairie through Prairie Creek. That year Camp Ranch built a canal to divert the flow of water to the River Styx and from there to Orange Lake. After the canal, Payne Prairie received significantly less water flow overall.

The lakeside area had sheltered pavilions, a playground, and barbecue grills until the flood of 2007 when most of the lakes natural environment were destroyed. There is little wildlife and most of the trees have died off.

In the Spring and Summer of 2000, a drought revealed canoe remnants. Forty-one of 55 fragments were analyzed through radiocarbon assays, which showed them to date to between 2300 and 5000 B.C. The wood choice and manufacturing techniques were comparable to other Archaic Period Indian Tribes. The discovery led to the site's addition to the National Register of Historic Places in March 2001.[3]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "Newnans Lake, Florida: Removal of particulate organic matter and nutrients using a short-term drawdown (Phase I)" (PDF). (1.41 MB)
  2. ↑ U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Newnans Lake
  3. ↑ "Newnan's Lake canoes". State of Florida, Office of Cultural and Historical Programs. Retrieved 21 July 2007.


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