The main source of water flow into the chain of lakes today is through canals from the Withlacoochee River into the Floral City Pool.

As of 1984, 30 archaeological sites had been identified in the area, with evidence of occupation by people of the Deptford, Weeden Island, and Safety Harbor cultures.

The Duval Island archaeological site (8Ci5), at the southern end of the Cove, is a likely location for the town of Tocaste named in the chronicles of the de Soto expedition.

Another archaeological site, Tatham Mound (8Ci203), contained burials of a few people killed by sword blows, and of at least 77 individuals who apparently died at close to the same time, perhaps from an epidemic disease introduce by the de Soto expedition.

The Wild Hog Scrub archaeological site (8Ci198) has been tentatively identified as Powell's Town, Osceola's home at the beginning of the Second Seminole War.