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Authority flagged elevated phosphorus, nitrogen at Duda Road and Lake Lena Lane monitoring sites
Summary
Water Authority staff reported elevated total phosphorus and nitrogen at two monitoring sites feeding the Apopka-Beauclair Canal, with phosphorus averages and maxima well above the Lake Eau Claire target; staff recommended continued sampling and upstream-source mitigation.
Kathy Cadizius, program manager for water resources, presented special-project monitoring results from the Duda Road/Jones Road/County Road 448 area and the Lake Lena Lane site. She said the board-funded study began in 2017 and that the authority has continued targeted sampling since February 2024.
Cadizius reported that the target total phosphorus concentration for Lake Eau Claire is 0.032 milligrams per liter. Recent monitoring at the Deuter Road/County Road 448 intersection showed a project mean of about 0.378 mg/L; the Lake Lena Lane site has averaged 0.896 mg/L with a maximum measurement of 2.56 mg/L. "We are definitely seeing nutrient loading occurring at these two locations," Cadizius said, and she noted total nitrogen at Lake Lena Lane is also higher than the 2017 baseline (recent average 2.44 mg/L versus a 2017 study mean of 1.39 mg/L).
Cadizius and trustees discussed likely upland and agricultural sources on the Orange County side of the canal, attenuation patterns through rim ditches and the role of atmospheric deposition. Staff emphasized that about 75% of the loading into Lake Eau Claire appears to come from upstream sources and recommended ongoing monitoring and targeted attenuation efforts at the identified upstream sites.
Why it matters: elevated phosphorus and nitrogen can accelerate algal growth and reduce lake clarity and ecosystem health in the Harris Chain watershed; trustees asked staff to coordinate with agricultural stakeholders and explore mitigation and grant opportunities.
Next steps: staff will continue the special-project sampling, coordinate with partner agencies on upstream-source mitigation, and present any recommended targeted interventions and potential grant funding opportunities at a future board meeting.
