Adopt-a-Lake Program Protect. Preserve. Participate.

The Adopt-a-Lake Program, created by the Lake County Board of County Commissioners in 2008, invites residents, civic groups, and businesses to take an active role in protecting and restoring our County’s greatest natural asset—its lakes.

With over 1,000 freshwater lakes, Lake County offers endless opportunities to make a difference. Volunteers in the program help clean shorelines, monitor water quality, and educate the public—all while helping to reduce the cost of environmental stewardship for taxpayers.

How It Works

Volunteers can adopt a section of a lake's shoreline and choose to participate in one or more of the program's three components:

Water Quality Monitoring

Get hands-on with science by helping collect water samples from your adopted lake.

  • Volunteers are trained to conduct basic field testing and collect samples from the shoreline or a dock—no boat required.
  • Samples are analyzed by the Lake County Water Quality Laboratory, and the data is uploaded to the Lake County Water Atlas and reported to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP).
  • Quarterly sampling is required, though monthly sampling is encouraged.
  • Volunteers receive their lab reports and can track their lake's health online.

Education & Outreach

Help spread the word! Volunteers in this component focus on raising awareness about how daily choices—from fertilizer use to stormwater runoff—impact our lakes. Whether you speak to neighbors, distribute educational materials, or support public events, you’ll be empowering the community to care for our water resources.

Pollution Prevention

Roll up your sleeves and help keep our shorelines clean.

  • Volunteers commit to four shoreline cleanups per year in their adopted area.
  • All equipment and training are provided.
  • You’ll also have the opportunity to maintain a monofilament fishing line recycling station, helping keep harmful litter out of our ecosystems.

Participation in annual county-wide cleanup events is highly encouraged.

Photo Contest & Calendar

Each fall, the program hosts the popular Adopt-a-Lake Calendar Photo Contest. Residents can submit up to five original photos of their favorite Lake County lakes. Finalists are chosen by a committee, and the public helps select the winners through online voting.

The winning photos are featured in the annual Adopt-a-Lake Calendar, with proceeds supporting program activities.

Ready to Get Involved?

Volunteering is easy and rewarding. Whether you're a nature lover, educator, student, or local business, there's a role for you.

Sign up online or contact the Lake County Water Quality Laboratory at 352-253-1659 to get started.

Together, we can protect the beauty and health of Lake County's lakes—one shoreline at a time.

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