Middle St. Johns - Florida Department of Environmental Protection

Water Quality Assessment Report: Middle St. Johns
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Delineated Areas. These areas are delineated for EDB and volatile organic
compounds.
Nonpoint Sources. While the majority of land use in the planning
unit comprises wetlands (20 percent), water (17 percent), and upland forest
(15 percent), another large portion consists of urban and built-up (35 percent).
Agriculture accounts for 8 percent; rangeland, 3 percent; and barren
land and transportation, communications, and utilities, 2 percent. These
developed land uses can be associated with nonpoint discharges of pollutants
and eroded sediments. Appendix H provides a detailed analysis of
land use in the basin, by planning unit.
The large proportion of urban and built-up land in the planning unit
creates the potential for nonpoint source contamination. Historically,
Lake Monroe has received untreated stormwater discharges (URS, 2001).
Located in the area with the highest growth potential in Seminole County
(SJRWMD, 2001b), the Midway portion of the planning unit is under
development pressure. Seminole County has completed a master plan for
this area. Although agricultural runoff into Lake Monroe has diminished,
other direct runoff (e.g., fertilizer and roadway pollutants) continues to
affect water quality. Presently, there are no treatment areas for road runoff
in this area (SJRWMD, 2001b).
Ecological Summary
The wetland environment of the Lake Monroe planning unit provides
many habitats for surrounding wildlife. Major development has been
taking place, and efforts are being designed to preserve and protect lands
that are currently undeveloped.
The blueback herring (Alosa aestivalis), a rare and imperiled fish, has
been observed in Lake Monroe and the St. Johns River (Hoehn, 1998).
Water Quality Improvement Plans and Projects
Many plans are being implemented to monitor, correct, and ultimately
improve water problems. Local, county, and state governments are carrying
out these plans, which include the Lake Monroe Basin Watershed Management
Plan, Deltona Watershed Management Plan, Wastewater Reuse,
Volusia-to-DeBary Trunkline, Sanford and Midway Basin Studies, Water
Quality Enhancement Capital Program, Basin Deficiency Correction Program,
Middle Basin Forecasting Model, and Scrub Jay Habitat Preservation
Program. Appendix C summarizes restoration and protection efforts in
the basin, by planning unit.
Waters will not be placed on the Verified List if the Department
receives reasonable assurance that existing or proposed projects and/or programs
are expected to result in the attainment of water quality standards or
consistently improve water quality over time. Chapter 4 and Appendix D
contain additional information on the requirements for reasonable
assurance.
For this planning unit, no management plans or projects complying
with the Department’s guidance for reasonable assurance have been provided
for the 2002 list of impaired waters.