Leon County Water Quality Journal

Northeast Black Creek is a tannic, acidic, predominantly nitrogen-limited stream located in northeastern Leon County. The stream forms near Centerville Road and the Chemonie Plantation subdivision and flows southeast through the Miccosukee Land Cooperative before crossing under Capitola Road. The creek then turns northeast to join Still Creek and then flows into Bird Sink.

Fisher Creek Drainage Basin is located in south western Leon County in the Apalachicola National Forest. The 17,984-acre watershed is relatively undeveloped, urban, residential, and rangeland land uses make up approximately 2% of the watershed. These types of land uses are often attributed to increases in stormwater runoff and higher nutrient loads. Fisher Creek is the only water resource Leon County is currently monitoring in the Fisher Creek Basin.

Located in the Apalachicola National Forest, Fisher Creek is a phosphorus-limited, naturally dark, tannic stream in southwestern Leon County. The stream eventually enters the Floridan aquifer via a sink located in the Leon Sinks Recreation Area. Dye trace studies have linked this sink to Wakulla Springs.

Lake Iamonia Drainage Basin receives surface water from approximately 104 square miles of Leon County in Florida and Thomas and Grady Counties in Georgia. Approximately 14% of land use in the 66,727-acre Lake Iamonia basin is agriculture, rangeland, urban, utilities or transportation. Increases in stormwater runoff and waterbody nutrient loads can often be attributed to these types of land uses. Leon County is currently monitoring three water resources within this drainage basin.

• Monitored Water Resources
  •  Lake Iamonia ,
  •  Plantation Stream ,
  •  Tall Timbers Creek 

Lake Iamonia is an approximately 5,554 acre, shallow, flat-bottomed, phosphorus-limited, prairie lake located in northern Leon County. Drastic water level fluctuations occur from discharge to the sinkhole and receiving floodwaters from the Ochlockonee River.

Plantation Stream discharges from the Centerville watershed, essentially bounded by Proctor Road and Pisgah Church Road at Centerville Road, continuing west under Thomasville Road, before discharging into Lake Iamonia. 

Tall Timbers Creek is a tannic stream located in northwestern Leon County. The stream flows south under County Road 12 through the Tall Timbers Research Station and Land Conservancy, eventually entering Lake Iamonia on the north shore of the lake.

Lake Jackson Drainage Basin receives surface water from approximately 42.7 square miles of Leon County in Florida. Approximately 40% of land use in the 27,340 acre Lake Jackson Basin is agriculture, rangeland, transportation, utilities, urban and residential. Increases in stormwater runoff and waterbody nutrient loads can often be attributed to these types of land uses. Leon County is currently monitoring seven water resources within this drainage basin.

• Monitored Water Resources
  •  Carr Lake 
  •  Lake Hall 
  •  Lake Jackson 
  •  Jackson Heights Creek 
  •  Lexington Creek 
  •  Meginnis Creek 
  •  Summerbrook Creek 

Carr Lake is an approximately 880 acre, primarily phosphorus-limited, shallow lake located north of Lake Jackson and is essentially surrounded by two property owners: Ayavalla Land Company and Orchard Pond LLC. Carr Lake is a valuable biological, aesthetic and recreational resource of Leon County and was designated as an Aquatic Preserve in 1973 for the primary purpose of preserving and maintaining the biological resources in their natural condition. 

Lake Hall is an approximately 182 acre lake located in northern Leon County, just north of Interstate 10 and slightly west of U.S. Highway 319. Lake Hall is part of the Alfred B. Maclay State Gardens State Park, a state recreation area and botanical garden, and is considered to be an “Outstanding Florida Waters” by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP).

Lake Jackson is an approximately 4,254 acre, shallow, flat bottomed, prairie lake with two major sink-holes and is located north of the City of Tallahassee. Lake Jackson is a valuable biological, aesthetic, and recreational resource of Leon County and was designated (along with the neighboring Lake Carr and Mallard Pond) as an Aquatic Preserve in 1974 for the primary purpose of preserving and maintaining the biological resources in their natural condition.

Jackson Heights Creek is a heavily altered stream located off of Hwy 27 in northern Leon County. The stream receives runoff from the Parkhill and Greenwood Hills subdivisions, and then continues north through Lake Jackson Heights and Harbinwood sub-divisions before finally entering Lake Jackson. This watershed, with residential development dating from the 1950’s, displays impacts from channelized flow and aging septic tanks. Sampling was intermittent from February 2007 through October 2008, due to low flow conditions and stormwater facility construction in the channel. The stormwater facility was constructed to mitigate development impacts and to benefit both the creek and Lake Jackson.

Lexington Creek is a moderately altered stream located in the northern part of Tallahassee and drains into the Fords Arm of Lake Jackson. The watershed extends to Thomasville Road at I-10 on the east, and is bounded by Maclay Road and Live Oak Plantation Road on the north and south, respectively.

Meginnis Creek is a substantially altered, nitrogen limited stream located in the northern part of Tallahassee and drains into Lake Jackson.

Summerbrook Creek at Bannerman Rd is a slightly tannic stream located in northwestern Leon County and discharges to Lake Carr.

Lake Jackson Drainage Basin receives surface water from approximately 42.7 square miles of Leon County in Florida. Approximately 40% of land use in the 27,340 acre Lake Jackson Basin is agriculture, rangeland, transportation, utilities, urban and residential. Increases in stormwater runoff and waterbody nutrient loads can often be attributed to these types of land uses. Leon County is currently monitoring seven water resources within this drainage basin.

•  Alford Arm Tributary 
•  Apalachee Creek 
•  Lafayette Creek 
•  Lake Lafayette 
  •  Lower Lake Lafayette 
  •  Upper Lake Lafayette 
  • Alford Arm
  •  Lake Piney Z 
•  Northeast Drainage Ditch 
•  Unnamed Stream at Chaires Cross Rd 

The Alford Arm Creek (Alford Arm Tributary) is a moderately altered, nitrogen-limited stream located in the northern part of Leon County. The tributary flows from Lake McBride in the Bradfordville area and receives runoff from the heavily developed Killearn Estates and Killearn Acres neighborhoods. Many of the water-bodies are former agricultural ponds, most notably the Velda Dairy impoundments that are now seen as residential amenities. The zoning designation south of Centerville Road and US 90 remains agricultural.

Apalachee Creek is a slightly tannic stream that flows north and drains into Lower Lake Lafayette.

Lafayette Creek is a slightly tannic stream that flows north and drains into Upper Lake Lafayette. Station 1 (Sample site 65) is located on Apalachee Parkway, while Station 2 (LafayetteCreek 3) is located further downstream where Lafayette Creek enters into Upper Lake Lafayette.

Lake Lafayette was historically a meandering, wetland/prairie lake system located in eastern Leon County, but land alterations in the mid-1900s separated the lake into four distinct sections, known as Upper Lake Lafayette, Lake Piney Z, Alford Arm, and Lower Lake Lafayette. Limited hydraulic connectivity occurs between the various sections, much of which is present only during high water elevations. Because of the compartmentalization of the four sections, each section is treated as a separate “lake” with its own watershed. Health for individual sections is measured separately.

Lower Lake Lafayette is the largest of the four lake compartments, covering an area of 1,006 acres and bordered by the Leon County Apalachee Regional Park Solid Waste Facility, Talquin Electric Sewage Treatment Plant and various residential and commercial developments. Lower Lake Lafayette is also home to a wood stork colony.

The typically phosphorus-limited Upper Lake Lafayette is the westernmost lake in this system. The most dominant feature of Upper Lake Lafayette is the sinkhole (Lafayette Sink) that is located in the northeastern portion of the lake and drains into the Floridan Aquifer. The majority of the water entering Upper Lake Lafayette ultimately discharges into the sink area. As a result, the area and volume of the lake is highly variable. Approximately 74% of the 14,792 acre Upper Lake Lafayette Watershed landuses include agriculture, rangeland, transportation, utilities, urban and residential.

Lake Piney Z is a 228 acre waterbody located between Upper Lake Lafayette and Lower Lake Lafayette which consists primarily of an open water system, although substantial stands of vegetation were historically present within the lake. Transportation, utilities, urban and residential land uses make up approximately 45% of the 691-acre Piney Z watershed. Increases in stormwater runoff and waterbody nutrient loads can often be attributed to these types of land uses.

In 1997, Lake Piney Z was drawn down and organic matter was scraped from the bottom and used to construct fishing fingers extending north from the southern bank. Following construction of the fishing fingers, the lake was restocked with game fish. Currently, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, in cooperation with the City of Tallahassee, manage Piney Z as a Fish Management Area.

The Unnamed Stream at Chaires Crossroad is a highly altered stream/ditch draining Alford Arm and Lower Lake Lafayette and is located in eastern Leon County.

The Northeast Drainage Ditch is a heavily urbanized stream located within the City of Tallahassee. The stream flows east and eventually enters Upper Lake Lafayette. Directly upstream of the water quality sampling station is a stormwater facility known as Weems Pond Regional Stormwater Treatment Facility (Weems Pond). The City of Tallahassee converted Weems Pond into an alum-injection facility that was brought online in October 2015. The retrofit of the facility will reduce pollutant loads leaving the pond, which flow downstream through the Northeast Drainage Ditch and into Upper Lake Lafayette.

Lake Miccosukee Drainage Basin receives surface water from approximately 231 square miles of Leon and Jefferson Counties in Florida and Thomas and Grady Counties in Georgia. Approximately 15% of land use in the 147,861-acre Lake Miccosukee basin is agriculture, rangeland, transportation, utilities, urban and residential. Increases in stormwater runoff and waterbody nutrient loads can often be attributed to these types of land uses. Leon County is currently monitoring 2 water resources within this drainage basin.

•  Lake Miccosukee 
•  Panther Creek 

Lake Miccosukee is a 6,257 acre, phosphorus-limited lake that forms the northeastern border of Leon County. Lake Miccosukee is considered a shallow, prairie lake which historically drained via sinkholes becoming nearly dry in the process.

Panther Creek is a tannic, nitrogen-limited stream that flows southeast and eventually drains into Lake Miccosukee.

Lake Munson Drainage Basin receives surface water from approximately 60.6 square miles of Leon County in Florida. Approximately 54% of land use in the 38,790-acre Lake Munson basin is rangeland, transportation, utilities, urban or residential. Increases in stormwater runoff and waterbody nutrient loads can often be attributed to these types of land uses. Leon County is currently monitoring 6 water resources within this drainage basin.

•  Bradford Brook Chain of Lakes 
  •  Lake Bradford 
  •  Cascade Lake 
  •  Lake Hiawatha 
•  Gum Creek 
•  Lake Munson 
•  Munson Slough 

The Bradford Brook Chain of Lakes is composed of the cypress rimmed, dark water Lakes Bradford (179 acres), Hiawatha (51 acres) and Cascade (124 acres) and is located in western Leon County. Water typically flows east via Bradford Brook into Lake Cascade. Lake Hiawatha receives flow from Lake Cascade via a culvert beneath Capital Circle Southwest. Much of the water entering Lake Bradford is via Lake Hiawatha, though at times Grassy Lake flows into Lake Bradford. On occasion, flow is reversed and Lake Bradford flows into Lake Hiawatha which then flows into Lake Cascade. In addition, groundwater sources of flow are possible.

•  Bradford Brook Chain of Lakes 
  •  Lake Bradford 
  •  Cascade Lake 
  •  Lake Hiawatha 

Lake Bradford is the southernmost waterbody in the Bradford Brook Chain of Lakes. It is a 179 acre cypress rimmed dark water lake located in western Leon County. Within the Chain of lakes, water typically flows east via Bradford Brook into Lake Cascade. Lake Hiawatha receives flow from Lake Cascade via a culvert beneath Capital Circle Southwest. Much of the water entering Lake Bradford is via Lake Hiawatha, though at times Grassy Lake flows into Lake Bradford. On occasion, flow is reversed and Lake Bradford flows into Lake Hiawatha which then flows into Lake Cascade. In addition, groundwater sources of flow are possible.

Cascade Lake is the northern most waterbody in the Bradford Brook Chain of Lakes. It is a 124 acre cypress rimmed dark water lake located in western Leon County. Within the Chain of lakes, water typically flows east via Bradford Brook into Lake Cascade. Lake Hiawatha receives flow from Lake Cascade via a culvert beneath Capital Circle Southwest. Much of the water entering Lake Bradford is via Lake Hiawatha, though at times Grassy Lake flows into Lake Bradford. On occasion, flow is reversed and Lake Bradford flows into Lake Hiawatha which then flows into Lake Cascade. In addition, groundwater sources of flow are possible

Lake Hiawatha is the middle waterbody in the Bradford Brook Chain of Lakes. It is a 51 acre cypress rimmed dark water lake located in western Leon County. Within the Chain of lakes, water typically flows east via Bradford Brook into Lake Cascade. Lake Hiawatha receives flow from Lake Cascade via a culvert beneath Capital Circle Southwest. Much of the water entering Lake Bradford is via Lake Hiawatha, though at times Grassy Lake flows into Lake Bradford. On occasion, flow is reversed and Lake Bradford flows into Lake Hiawatha which then flows into Lake Cascade. In addition, groundwater sources of flow are possible.

The urbanized Gum Creek system is located in central Leon County. Gum Creek meanders south through several wetlands, and eventually flows into Munson Slough.

Lake Munson is an approximately 288 acre, cypress-rimmed, nitrogen-limited lake located south of the City of Tallahassee. The lake is believed to have originally been a cypress swamp but has since been impounded and now functions as a shallow man-made lake. Lake Munson receives the majority of its water from the heavily altered Munson Slough and its tributaries. Lake outflow continues southward via Munson Slough and finally drains into Ames Sink. Dye trace studies have confirmed a direct connection between Ames Sink and Wakulla Springs.

The heavily urbanized Munson Slough and its tributaries are located in central Leon County and drain a portion of the City of Tallahassee. The Slough flows south into and out of Lake Munson, then continues to Eight Mile Pond. After exiting Eight Mile Pond, the Slough flows under Oak Ridge Road and enters Ames Sink, which is known to be connected to Wakulla Springs.

Lost Creek Drainage Basin is located in western Leon County The majority of the 30,499-acre drainage basin is relatively undeveloped with rangeland, transportation and utilities making up 2% of land use. Lost Creek is the only resource currently being monitored by Leon County in this drainage basin.

•  Lost Creek 

Lost Creek is a tannic, acidic, phosphorus-limited stream located in southwestern Leon County. The Lost Creek water quality station was moved from Bloxham Cutoff to U.S. Forest Road 309 in 2011.

Ochlockonee River Florida Drainage Basin: Approximately 35% of land use in the 1,019,525-acre Ochlockonee River Basin upstream of the southernmost sample station is agriculture, rangeland, urban, transportation or utilities. Increases in stormwater runoff and waterbody nutrient loads can often be attributed to these types of land uses. Leon County is currently monitoring 7 water resources within this drainage basin.

•  Freeman Creek 
•  Harvey Creek 
•  Lake Talquin 
•  Ochlockonee River 
•  Polk Creek 
•  Soapstone Creek 
•  West Black Creek 

Freeman Creek is a tannic, slightly acidic, phosphorus limited stream that flows into Lake Talquin and is located in western Leon County.

Harvey Creek is a tannic, slightly acidic, phosphorus limited stream that flows into Lake Talquin and is located in western Leon County.

The 7,782 acre Lake Talquin is considered an Out-standing Florida Water by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) and is located in western Leon County. Its basin extends into surrounding Florida counties as well as southern Georgia. Lake Talquin State Park is along the southern shoreline of the lake and was acquired as a donation to the state.

The lake was formed in 1929 when the Jackson Bluff Dam was constructed on the Ochlockonee River to produce hydroelectric power. The dam, built and managed by the West Florida Power Company (later to become Florida Power Corporation) who operated the facility until 1970, was abandoned as a power plant and turned over to the Florida Department of Natural Resources (later to become FDEP). FDNR/FDEP managed the dam without producing power until 1981. The City of Tallahassee then took over the dam, and in August 1985, the plant became operational as the C. H. Corn Hydroelectric Power Generating Plant. In 2017, the City did not renew its lease to operate the power plant and turned the dam back over to state.

The Ochlockonee River originates in south-central Georgia and flows about 206 miles south to Ochlockonee Bay in Florida, draining approximately 2,400 square miles in all or part of eleven counties between the two states. The river is impounded by the Jackson Bluff Dam, forming Lake Talquin. 

Polk Creek is a minimally disturbed, slightly tannic stream located in western Leon County. The stream flows west, eventually reaching Lake Talquin.

Soapstone Creek is a minimally disturbed, phosphorus-limited stream located in southwestern Leon County. The stream flows west, eventually reaching the Ochlockonee River downstream of Lake Talquin.

West Black Creek is a minimally disturbed, phosphorus-limited stream located in southwestern Leon County. The stream flows west, eventually reaching the Ochlockonee River downstream of Lake Talquin.

Patty Sink Drainage Basin is located in eastern Leon County. Approximately 28% of land use in Patty Sink’s 12,975 acre watershed is agriculture, open land, rangeland, transportation, utilities, urban and residential. Increases in stormwater runoff and waterbody nutrient loads can often be attributed to these types of land uses. Patty Sink Drain is the only resource currently being monitored by Leon County in this drainage basin.

•  Patty Sink Drain 

Patty Sink Drain is a slightly tannic, nitrogen-limited stream that flows south and eventually drains into Patty Sink and the Floridan Aquifer.

St Marks River Drainage Basin is located in southeastern Leon County. Approximately 17% of land use in 60,015 acre St Marks Basin is agriculture, rangeland, transportation, utilities or urban and residential. Increases in stormwater runoff and waterbody nutrient loads can often be attributed to these types of land uses. Leon County is currently monitoring 4 water resources within this drainage basin.

•  Chicken Branch 
•  Louvinia Creek 
•  St Marks River 
•  Lake Weeks 

Chicken Branch is located in southeastern Leon County. The stream is partially fed by Chicken Branch Spring and flows southeast, eventually draining into the St. Marks River.

Louvinia Creek is an intermittently flowing creek located in eastern Leon County.

The predominantly nitrogen-limited St. Marks River, declared an Outstanding Florida Water by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP), originates in the hardwood and cypress swamps of the Red Hills area and flows approximately 35 miles south before emptying into Apalachee Bay. At Natural Bridge Road, the river disappears underground and reappears approximately a mile downstream. It should be noted that there are interactions between the St. Marks River and Lake Lafayette during elevated water conditions.