Lake Placid
Lake Placid is a large, deep, sandy bottomed 'ridge' type lake located south of the Town of Lake Placid to the west of US 27. Based on Lakewatch data, water quality in Lake Placid was very good through March of 2001. However, water quality in the lake declined dramatically in late 2001 due to outside influences and it is currently unclear when the lake will be in good condition again. The Lakewatch data discussed below are for samples taken between April of 1994 through December of 2003, since most recent data are not yet available. Samples taken through our office in 2002 support the visible decline in lake water quality in recent months. Additional information will be provided in the current projects section of our web site as enough data to make interpretations becomes available.
Water quality in Lake Placid was very good due to low nutrient levels, which resulted in low algae levels and a high degree of water clarity. Phosphorus levels ranged from 5 to 30 ppb (parts per billion) and averaged only 13 ppb. Nitrogen levels ranged from 230 to 690 ppb and averaged only 400 ppb. Algae populations, as estimated by the concentration of chlorophyll in the water, were very low as a result of low nutrient levels. Chlorophyll concentrations ranged from 2 to 21 ppb and averaged only 8 ppb. Low levels of algae increase water clarity, which is measured as the depth to which a standardized 'secchi' disc can be seen as it is lowered into the water. Secchi depths ranged from a healthy 5 to 14 feet and averaged 8.5 feet. Water quality had not changed appreciably from the time Lakewatch sampling began in 1994 through the summer of 2001, and overall water quality of the lake appears to have remained good throughout the nutrient inflow problems. Click here to view water quality data by year.
There are two boat ramps on Lake Placid. The first ramp is located off of Harris Avenue just west of US 27 south of the Town of Lake Placid at the northeast corner of the lake. The other ramp is located on the west side of the lake off of Placid View Drive. Take Mirror Drive west from US 27 and turn left at the stop sign, onto Placid View Drive and travel south for about a mile.
Historic aerial photo gallery 1944-2002
Lakewatch water quality data through 1999