Skip Navigation LinksHomeBiomonitoring ProgramWaterbody

Brantley, Lake

Map it!

A part of the Big Wekiva Watershed

Lake Brantley

Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) developed a lake bioassessment protocol for monitoring and assessment of the biological condition of Florida lakes. Generally speaking, bioassessment entails the collection of aquatic insects from lake and stream locations. The presence or absence of certain types (species) and their numbers (abundance), provides great insight regarding the current as well as historic water quality of a waterbody. Seminole County biologists monitor lakes and streams to protect and manage ecosystem health. Lake bioassessment protocol is employed as part of the ambient monitoring program in support of Florida's water quality standards. In this webpage, we discuss lake biomonitoring, biomonitoring data, and present the condition of the waterbody using special "grading" systems commonly know indices. Indices are mathematical combinations of data that provide an overall grade or summary pertaining to lake condition or health.

Seminole County have implemented the use of the Lake Condition Index (LCI) developed by FDEP. Click here to learn more about LCI. The LCI method divides each lake into 12 equal segments (Figure 1) and a grab is taken in each segment using the Ekman sampler (Figure 2). The 12 grabs are then combined into a single composite sample, and each sample is randomly subsampled to a count of at least 100 organisms, which are identified to the lowest practical taxonomic level. Lakes greater than 1000 acres are divided into two or more basins and are retained as separate samples.

Lake Brantley is a solution basin (lake basin formed by the solution of surficial and underlying rock) covering a surface area of 288 acres, with a mean depth of 12 ft. and maximum depth of 28 ft. Brantley is a private lake located in Longwood, Seminole County, surrounded by high density urban development, Nevertheless, it remains an oligotrophic lake evidenced by its Trophic State Index (TSI) average of 35.8. Click here to learn more about TSI. This private, urban lake is considered one of the more oligotrophic lakes located in Seminole County because of its deep light penetration, exceptional water clarity, extensive submersed native plant community including stonewort (Nitella), baby tears (Micranthemum glomeratum) and eelgrass (Vallisneria americana).

Macroinvertebrate Community Results:

The results for Lake Brantley a LCI score of 'very good' as it has many sensitive and diverse taxa (groups) including gastropods, bivalves, mayflies, caddisflies and dragonflies. Lake Brantley contains Hexagenia orlando, a sentinel mayfly species that is endemic to Central Florida and is only found in lakes. A sentinel species is one whose presence, absence, or relative well-being is indicative of the health of the environment in which it historically has been found. Hexagenia orlando is a rare species since it is highly intolerant of poor water quality. Factors that threaten the health of all surface water bodies and groundwater include, but are not limited to: stormwater runoff (e.g., lawn fertilizers, animal wastes and automobile residues); leaking sewage collection systems; loss of watershed and wetlands, and invasive plants and animals.

Currently Lake Brantley is infested with two dominant exotic species that may disrupt the native ecosystem thus contributing to changes in macroinvertebrate structure. These species are the exotic channel apple snail (Pomacea insularum) and aquatic plant hydrilla (Hydrilla verticillata).

Seminole County samples the benthic macroinvertebrate community in Lake Brantley biannually, once in the summer and once in the winter.

Announcements

Read disclaimer

There are no announcements to display.

Contact Us

For more information about the Macroinvertebrate Monitoring Program, please contact:

Michelle Shelton
Macroinvertebrate Program Coordinator
200 West County Home Road
Sanford, FL 32773

Phone: (407) 665-5269

Email: mshelton@seminolecountyfl.gov

Photo Gallery

Get help with this component

Choose a Monitoring Location

Search by pond name, number or program
Waterbody IDWaterbody NameWaterbody Type
7501Adelaide, LakeLake
7504Ann, Lake (Casselberry)Lake
1000Bear CreekRiver
7513Bear Gully LakeLake
7514Bear LakeLake
7519Brantley, LakeLake
7520Buck LakeLake
7535Deforest LakeLake
1006Econlockhatchee RiverRiver
7552Florence, LakeLake
7553Florida, LakeLake
7556Garden LakeLake
1008Gee CreekRiver
7569Harney, LakeLake
1009Howell CreekRiver
7579Howell, LakeLake
7589Jesup, LakeLake
1011Little Econlockhatchee RiverRiver
1013Little Wekiva RiverRiver
7608Marion, LakeLake
7617Mobile, LakeLake
7618Monroe, LakeLake
7631Orienta, LakeLake
1020Salt CreekRiver
7656Seminary, LakeLake
1024Soldiers CreekRiver
7659Spring Lake (Altamonte Springs)Lake
7660Spring Wood Lake and WaterwayLake
1030Sweetwater Creek (Winter Springs)River
7663Sylvan LakeLake
7672Tuskawilla LakeLake
7686Woods, Lake Of TheLake
7687Yankee LakeLake

Get help with this component

Important Macroinvertebrate & Water Quality Data

Important Macroinvertebrate & Water Quality Data

Macroinvertebrate Data

ParameterLatest ValueHistorical RangeAdditional Information
% Diptera 80.00 %
06/08/2020
Source: SEMCO_MACROINV
0.40 - 80.00 %
10/22/2003 - 06/08/2020
21 samples
% EOT 24.00 %
06/08/2020
Source: SEMCO_MACROINV
0.10 - 71.00 %
10/22/2003 - 06/08/2020
21 samples
Biotic Index 6.0
06/08/2020
Source: SEMCO_MACROINV
1.0 - 9.0
10/22/2003 - 06/08/2020
17 samples
LCI Score 71.0
06/08/2020
Source: SEMCO_MACROINV
51.0 - 84.0
10/22/2003 - 06/08/2020
17 samples
SW Diversity Index 3.7
06/08/2020
Source: SEMCO_MACROINV
3.2 - 4.3
10/22/2003 - 06/08/2020
17 samples
Total # Individuals 110 #
06/08/2020
Source: SEMCO_MACROINV
80 - 114 #
10/22/2003 - 06/08/2020
17 samples
Total # Species 24 #
06/08/2020
Source: SEMCO_MACROINV
17 - 32 #
10/22/2003 - 06/08/2020
17 samples

Water Quality Data

ParameterLatest ValueHistorical RangeAdditional Information
Dissolved oxygen (DO) 9.77 mg/l
01/25/2024
Source: SEMCO_PWWQ
6.30 - 10.95 mg/l
10/02/1973 - 01/25/2024
149 samples
Nitrogen 660.00 ug/l
09/04/2023
Source: WIN_21FLKWAT
86.09 - 2,050.00 ug/l
10/20/1994 - 09/04/2023
692 samples
pH 7.80
01/25/2024
Source: SEMCO_PWWQ
6.00 - 8.36
10/02/1973 - 01/25/2024
146 samples
Phosphorus as P 16.00 ug/l
09/04/2023
Source: WIN_21FLKWAT
1.30 - 142.00 ug/l
03/09/1982 - 09/04/2023
688 samples
Secchi disk depth 9.84 ft
01/25/2024
Source: SEMCO_PWWQ
0.50 - 17.06 ft
10/02/1973 - 01/25/2024
847 samples
Temperature, water 64.24 deg F
01/25/2024
Source: SEMCO_PWWQ
55.96 - 89.98 deg F
10/02/1973 - 01/25/2024
147 samples
Total Suspended Solids (TSS) 2.00 mg/l
08/01/2023
Source: SEMCO_PWWQ
0.50 - 33.50 mg/l
11/25/1998 - 08/01/2023
98 samples
Trophic State Index: Florida DEP 42.00
09/04/2023
Source: WIN_21FLKWAT
3.00 - 54.00
10/20/1994 - 09/04/2023
648 samples
Turbidity 0.23 NTU
01/25/2024
Source: SEMCO_PWWQ
0.00 - 3.60 NTU
03/09/1982 - 01/25/2024
119 samples

Advanced Data Features

 

Advanced Graphing Advanced Graphing
Graph water quality, hydrology, and rainfall trends using the data presented on the Atlas.

Data Download Data Download
Download water quality, hydrology, and rainfall data to use in your own analyses and reports.