Water bodies, watersheds and storm water
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Middle St. Johns River Basin Home
Lake Monroe
Lake Monroe is about 9,400 acres in size and is a shallow, wide area of the St. Johns River in central Florida. The Lake Monroe subbasin is heavily developed and is in the area designated as having the highest potential for growth in Seminole County. Significant development has already impacted the wetlands and waterways of this basin, by the Interstate 4 corridor and with the development in the cities of Sanford, Lake Mary, DeBary and Deltona.
Challenges
High levels of phosphorus from lawn and farming chemicals, untreated stormwater runoff and wastewater plant discharges in the past led to the lake’s decline. Stormwater runoff from developed areas that occurred prior to stormwater regulations has caused water quality degradation.
Flooding has also occurred around the lake in the adjoining areas that drain poorly and in areas immediately along the shoreline.
Finding solutions
The St. Johns River (with Lake Harney in the background) appears as fingers reaching across the landscape at the State Road 46 bridge.
Projects cooperatively funded through the St. Johns River Water Management District and local sources have been completed in the watershed to address water quality issues and flooding through upgrading of old stormwater management systems, the construction of regional stormwater treatment facilities, and through the expanded use of reuse (reclaimed) water as a source for landscape irrigation. Though the city of Sanford’s wastewater treatment plant still discharges into the lake during very wet times, it has reduced this practice by implementing the use of reclaimed water.
As with the other subbasins within the Middle St. Johns River Basin, scientific evaluations are under way and computer models are being used to provide information on the flow characteristics and water quality issues in Lake Monroe, as well as in the segments of the St. Johns River upstream and downstream of the lake. These tools will be used to address the high level of nutrients loading to the lake and to reduce the potential for algal blooms within Lake Monroe and further downstream. The District will continue to work on the issues and will remain an active partner with the federal and state agencies, local governments, and interested groups that all share an interest in the improvement of Lake Monroe.
Contact information
For more information about Lake Monroe, contact Mary Brabham, basin program manager, at (407) 659-4829 or mbrabham@sjrwmd.com.
Updated on 5-14-2010
