[2][3] Winter Haven and the chain of lakes sit at the headwaters of the Peace River basin.
[2] Paleolimnological studies have shown that the chain of lakes should have naturally high levels of tannins, which are caused by detritus from plants in the water.
Currently, the majority of the lakes in both chains are officially listed as 'impaired' by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection.
The impaired lakes on the southern chain are Lulu, Shipp, May, Howard, Mirror, Cannon, Jessie, Idylwild, Spring, and Roy.
The chain of lakes, as the headwaters of the Peace River, are important to the hydrological and environmental health of the region.
The city of Winter Haven, Polk County, the Southwest Florida Water Management District, the state of the Florida, and the federal government all have working projects to improve the water quality levels within the chain of lakes.
Greater care by the residents in the area will be required to preserve the chain of lakes for future generations.
[5] The area had no European or American settlement until the Florida Armed Occupation Act of 1842, which created incentives for settlers.
[5] In 1883, Henry Plant successfully built the first railroad across Polk County, passing right through the chain of lakes area.
Col. Haines was a prominent civil engineer and helped lay the roadbed used for the railroad tracks to cross the wetlands in this area.
Through his efforts to promote his theme park, Dick Pope Sr. helped to make the Chain of Lakes world famous.