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BARTOW, Fla. (WFLA) — In a move to improve safety on local lakes, the Polk County Board of County Commissioners approved an ordinance repealing and restating the Polk County Waterway Protection Code.
The update includes a resolution establishing designated swim-only areas where fishing will be prohibited, along with official vessel exclusion zones in popular recreational areas that bar motorized vessels. Included in these designated areas are sections of Lake Winterset in Winter Haven and both Lake Clinch and Lake Ariana in Auburndale.
Polk County is home to approximately 550 lakes covering more than 93,000 acres, so naturally, county officials want to make it known that water safety is a serious concern.
Earlier this month, Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd submitted a formal request to the board, citing concerns about an increasing number of near-collisions between boaters and swimmers.
Commissioners unanimously approved the ordinance and said they would keep a close watch on the situation.
“This is a good start. It is a good beginning,” said Commissioner Martha Santiago. “As we move forward with this, we will depend on the residents to tell us how it’s going so that we can make further decisions.”
The new designated vessel exclusion zones and swim areas will go into effect once appropriate signage has been installed.