Doctors Lake restoration projects

Updated on 9-24-2024

Located in Clay County adjacent to the west bank of the St. Johns River, the Doctors Lake Basin covers approximately 23 square miles. The basin’s former agricultural and forested lands now support medium and high-density residential areas and commercial properties.

Doctors Lake has experienced water quality issues due to nutrient loading from stormwater runoff and other non-point sources such as septic tank effluent. Because of its narrow connection with the St. Johns River, the 3,400-acre lake has poor circulation and nutrients tend to concentrate in the lake.

Contributing nutrient-loading factors include:

• Basin population of 35,000 (2000 Census)
• 12,000-plus housing units
• 847 units on septic tanks

During the 2018 legislative session, then-Sen. Rob Bradley, R-Fleming Island, Senate Budget Chairman, and Rep Travis Cummings, R-Orange Park, secured specific funding during the budget process for the St. Johns River to implement water resources projects that will help improve water quality in the St. Johns River, its tributaries and the Keystone Heights Lake Region, as well as improving public access and recreation projects within the St. Johns River Water Management District.

With then-Gov. Rick Scott’s support and approval of the budget, the St. Johns River Water Management District, Clay County and Clay County Utility Authority (CCUA) partnered to identify potential projects in the area.

Identified projects and status are:

• The Florida Department of Environmental Protection has provided an innovative technology grant to fund a contract between the District and BlueGreen US Water Technologies, Inc.(BGWT) for Harmful Algal Bloom (HAB) identification and treatment in Doctors Lake.  BGWT will deploy floating sensors in the lake to report real-time bloom conditions, collect routine water quality samples and utilize an innovative remote sensing technology platform (Lake Guard View) to detect and categorize HABs. Upon detection, HABs will be treated with BGWT’s proprietary, hydrogen peroxide based algaecide, Lake Guard Oxy. (For additional information, see BGWT’s project update page at bluegreenwatertech.com.)
• • The Doctors Lake Enhanced Effluent Treatment Project is an innovative technology project currently removing phosphorus from wastewater effluent. The project is capable of treating an estimated 1.6 million gallons per day on an annual average basis. This project has removed over 7,200 pounds of total phosphorus (through July 2024) since starting operation. The project continues to operate with excellent water quality results.
• Another project on Doctors Lake extended the CCUA wastewater infrastructure and connected lakeside neighborhoods currently on residential septic systems to the wastewater system. Total nitrogen is being reduced by an estimated 900 pounds per year through the connection of approximately 60 homes to central sewer. The project was completed in April 2023.