Lake Bonny, (sometimes spelled Lake Bonnie) is a lake in Polk County, Florida, in the United States. It has a surface area of 249 acres (101 hectares), a mean depth of 3 feet (0.91 m) and a maximum depth of 11 feet (3.4 m). The lake is a part of the Peace River - Saddle Creek Watershed.

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Some believe the Bonny Lake derives its name from the bony fish caught in the lake, while others say the lake's name honors a local pioneer with the name Boney. The lake borders the 113 acre Lake Bonny Park, Bonny Shores Mobile Home Park, Southeastern University and the Lake-to-Lake Trail. In 2013, the city of Lakeland opened Lakeland Skatepark, a $1.3 million state-of-the-art skate facility at Lake Bonny Park, which has been used in photo shoots by Nike and other national advertisers.The skate park won the "Build It" award from the American Planning Association's Florida chapter. Wikipedia

 

Little Lake Bonny

The lake is usually conjoined with Little Lake Bonny on its southeastern corner, except in periods of drought.

 

The geology 

The geology of Lake Bonny in Lakeland, Florida, is defined by the region's karst topography, where the underlying limestone has been dissolved by water to form the lake and other natural features. The area's history is also shaped by ancient phosphate-rich fossil beds.

 

Karst geology and lake formation

The Central Florida landscape, including Polk County, was shaped over millions of years by the dissolution of limestone bedrock. This is the same process that formed Florida's extensive aquifer system. 

• Limestone bedrock: Florida's base consists of hundreds to thousands of feet of limestone, created when the state was submerged under a shallow, warm ocean millions of years ago.

• Karst erosion: Over time, slightly acidic rainwater has seeped through the ground, slowly dissolving the limestone and creating underground cavities and caverns. This process, known as karst erosion, is the primary reason for the region's sinkholes and lakes.

• Sinkhole lakes: Lake Bonny is believed to be a sinkhole lake, formed when a sinkhole became filled with water. Polk County is known as a hotspot for such activity, and many of its lakes, including some of the larger ones, began as a cluster of sinkholes that eventually combined into a single, larger lake. 

 

The Bone Valley phosphate deposits

Lake Bonny sits in an area known as the Bone Valley Formation, one of Florida's most significant geologic formations.

• Ancient life: During the Miocene epoch, millions of years ago, the area around present-day Polk County was a shoreline. The remains of ancient animals like camels, rhinos, and large crocodiles contributed to the rich fossil beds deposited on this ancient beach.

• Phosphate mining: The accumulation of these fossils over time created a thick layer of phosphate deposits in the region. This has made Polk County a hub for the phosphate mining industry, and the historic "Bonny Lake mine" was a part of this operation.

• Legacy of mining: Some former mining lands are now reclaimed or have been affected by the legacy of mining, which altered local hydrology. A 1977 field trip guide for the Southeastern Geological Society references the "Bonny Lake Reclamation Area," suggesting the nearby phosphate mine has been reclaimed. 

 

Hydrogeology

The water levels and geology of Lake Bonny are part of a larger, interconnected system.

• Surficial aquifer: The lake's water levels are connected to the surficial aquifer, the uppermost aquifer in the area.

• Floridan aquifer: Water from the lake and the surficial aquifer moves downward through a confining clay layer to reach the deeper Floridan aquifer system, which is a major source of drinking water for the state.

• Water quality: Because the surface water of lakes like Bonny eventually feeds into the aquifer, pollution from the surface is a serious concern. In Lake Bonny, this has led to problems with excess nutrients from runoff.