Lake Saddlebags
Lake Saddlebags is a somewhat deep (27 feet), sandy bottomed, clear ridge type lake located to the east of the Town of Lake Placid to the southeast of the intersection of US 27 and CR 621. Based on the limited amount of Lakewatch data collected from 1996-98, water quality in Lake Saddlebags is fair for a lake of this type. Nitrogen levels were a bit higher than expected for a ridge type lake while water clarity was lower than expected (but not due to the presence of algae). Phosphorus levels are as expected, ranging from 4 to 11 ppb (parts per billion) and averaging 6.8 ppb. Nitrogen levels range from a moderate 670 ppb to a very high 1970 ppb. However, algae levels, as estimated by the concentration of chlorophyll in the water, remain low due to low phosphorus levels. Water clarity, as measured by the depth to which a standardized 'secchi' disc can be seen when lowered into the water, in a ridge type lake is usually diminished by the presence of algae, but water clarity in Lake Saddlebags is less than expected for a ridge type lake in the absence of large algae populations. Secchi depths range from 2 to 5 feet and average 2.8 feet. Click here to view water quality data by year.