Partial drawdown of Bear Lake in Santa Rosa County, FL will take place through March 2024 - will remain open to fishing
FWC photo of Bear Lake.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is working with the Florida Forest Service in the Blackwater River State Forest on a brief drawdown of Bear Lake, that will begin this month, November 2023, and end in March 2024. This partial drawdown, or lowering of lake water levels, is being conducted to control nuisance aquatic vegetation on the shoreline. The lake will not close to fishing during this brief drawdown.
Bear Lake is a 107-acre artificial impoundment that was constructed in 1959 and opened to fishing in 1961, designated as a Fish Management Area (FMA). Bear Lake is in northeast Santa Rosa County within the Blackwater River State Forest, approximately two miles east of Munson on State Road 4.
For general waterbody information, fishing forecasts, virtual tours, plant control operation schedules and annual workplans, boat ramp information, and more, visit the “What’s Happening on My Lake” website at MyFWC.com/Lake.
If you have additional questions, contact Chris Paxton at the Northwest Regional Office in Panama City, Florida by email at Christopher.Paxton@MyFWC.com or by phone at (850) 265-3676.