{{Short description| Lake in the state of Florida, United States}} {{Use American English|date=July 2025}} {{Use mdy dates|date=December 2018}} {{Infobox body of water | name = Newnans Lake | image = Newnan's Lake Aerial.jpg | caption = Aerial view of Newnan's Lake | image_bathymetry = | caption_bathymetry = | location = Gainesville, Florida | coords = {{coord|29|39|02|N|82|13|06|W|type:waterbody_region:US-FL_source:gnis|display=inline,title}} | type = eutrophic{{sfn|Gottgens|Chrisman|1992|p=3}} | inflow = | outflow = Prairie Creek{{sfn|Gottgens|Chrisman|1992|p=8}} | catchment = {{convert|308|km2|mi2|abbr=on}}{{sfn|Gottgens|Chrisman|1992|p=8}} | basin_countries = United States | length = | width = | area = {{convert|3042|ha|acre|abbr=on}}{{sfn|Gottgens|Chrisman|1992|p=8}} | depth = {{convert|1.5|m|ft|abbr=on}}{{sfn|Gottgens|Chrisman|1992|p=8}} | max-depth = {{convert|3.6|m|ft|abbr=on}}{{sfn|Gottgens|Chrisman|1992|p=8}} | volume = {{convert|58|e6m3|abbr=on}}{{sfn|Gottgens|Chrisman|1992|p=8}} | residence_time = 0.6 years{{sfn|Gottgens|Chrisman|1992|p=8}} | shore = <!-- {{convert|1.09|km|mi|abbr=on}}{{sfn|Gottgens|Chrisman|1992|p=8}} --> | elevation = {{convert|66|ft|m|abbr=on}}<ref name=gnis>{{gnis|294429|Newnans Lake}}</ref> <!-- Map --> | pushpin_map = Florida#USA | pushpin_label_position = | pushpin_map_alt = Location of Newnans Lake in Florida, USA. | pushpin_map_caption = <!-- Below --> | website = | reference = }} thumb|right|View of Newnan's Lake '''Newnans Lake''' (or '''Newnan's Lake''') is a lake located off State Road 20, east of Gainesville, Florida. Approximately {{convert|1.12|mi|km|0}} wide, Newnans Lake is home to wildlife and has been designated as a protected site by Alachua County.

==History== The lake was originally known as '''Lake Pithlachocco'''. It was renamed after Daniel Newnan, who led a detachment of Georgia militia that fought an inconclusive battle with Seminoles near the lake in 1812.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Mahon|first=John K.|date=Fall 1995|title=Daniel Newnan: A Neglected Figure in Florida History|url=https://palmm.isle.flvc.org/islandora/florida-historical-quarterly-250|journal=The Florida Historical Quarterly|volume=74|issue=2|pages=148–153}}</ref>

Prairie Creek, the principal outlet of Newnans Lake, originally drained into Paynes Prairie. The Camp family, which owned Paynes Prairie and operated a cattle ranch on it, wanted to drain the prairie to improve it as pasture. After very heavy rain flooded the Prairie in 1927, the Camps commenced projects to lower the water table on the Prairie that included diverting Prairie Creek to the River Styx, which flows into Orange Lake.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Andersen|first=Lars|title=Paynes Prairie: A History of the Great Savanna|publisher=Pineapple Press|location=Sarasota, Florida|year=2001|pages=130–131|isbn=1-56164-225-8}}</ref>

In the Spring and Summer of 2000, a drought revealed canoe remnants. Fifty-five of the canoes were analyzed through radiocarbon assays, which showed 41 of them to date to between 2300 and 5000 B.C. The wood choice and manufacturing techniques were comparable to other Archaic Period canoes. The discovery led to the site's addition to the National Register of Historic Places in March 2001.<ref name=canoes>{{cite web|url=http://www.flheritage.com/archaeology/projects/canoes/|title=Newnan's Lake canoes|publisher=State of Florida, Office of Cultural and Historical Programs|accessdate=July 21, 2007}}</ref>

==Hydrology== Newnans Lake is located {{convert|8|km|mile}} east of Gainesville. It averages {{convert|1.5|m|ft}} deep, and has a maximum depth of {{convert|3.6|m|ft}}. It has an area of approximately {{convert|3000|ha|acre}}. Surface flow into the lake is primarily from the north, via Hatchett Creek, Little Hatchett Creek, and other streams. The lake's drainage basin has an area of {{convert|308|km2|mi2}}. The primary outlet is Prairie Creek on the south side of the lake.

A spillway was installed in 1967 to control the water level of the lake.{{sfn|Gottgens|Chrisman|1992|p=8}} It is classified as eutrophic. Before the spillway was installed, the water level of the lake fluctuated seasonally. The margins of the lake are dominated by Cypress swamp forests. Forty-four archaeological sites have been identified on the shores of the lake, or at nearby ponds and marshes.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Wheeler|first1=Ryan J.|last2=Miller|first2=James J.|last3=McGee|first3=Ray M.|last4=Ruhl|first4=Donna|last5=Swann|first5=Brenda|last6=Memory|first6=Melissa|date=July 2003|title=Archaic Period Canoes from Newnans Lake, Florida|journal=American Antiquity|volume=68|page=534|jstor=3557107}}</ref> The lake has been designated a Fish Management Area by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and the Alachua County Board of County Commissioners.{{sfn|Gottgens|Chrisman|1992|p=3}}

==State forest== The {{convert|1005|acre|ha|adj=on}} '''Newnans Lake State Forest''' is located to the west of the lake.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Newnans Lake State Forest|url=https://www.fdacs.gov/Forest-Wildfire/Our-Forests/State-Forests/Newnans-Lake-State-Forest|access-date=April 9, 2021|website=Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services}}</ref> The '''Newnans Lake Conservation Area''' owned by the St. Johns River Water Management District is primarily along the north end of the lake.<ref>[https://www.sjrwmd.com/lands/recreation/newnans-lake/ Newnans Lake Conservation Area (St. Johns River Water Management District)]</ref>

==See also== *Lake Pithlachocco Canoe Site

==Citations== {{reflist}}

==References== *{{cite web|last1=Gottgens|first1=Johan F.|last2=Chrisman|first2=Thomans L.|url= http://www.floridaswater.com/technicalreports/pdfs/SP/SJ92-SP23.pdf |title=Newnans Lake, Florida: Removal of particulate organic matter and nutrients using a short-term drawdown (Phase I) |year=1992|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924013837/http://www.floridaswater.com/technicalreports/pdfs/SP/SJ92-SP23.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 24, 2015|access-date=April 14, 2021}}&nbsp;{{small|(1.41&nbsp;MB)}}

{{Greater Gainesville}} {{authority control}}

Category:Lakes of Alachua County, Florida Category:Protected areas of Alachua County, Florida Category:Tourist attractions in Gainesville, Florida Category:Lakes of Florida Category:Protected areas established in 2001