Volunteer monitoring began at Lake Leota in 1998 and continued through 2009, after which it was discontinued. The data suggest that this lake in Woodinville is lightly colored and moderate in primary productivity (mesotrophic) with good water quality. A trend of increase in productivity since 2002 is moderately well substantiated. Alkalinity is in the lower mid-range for King County lakes.
Profile data suggest that thermal stratification is stable through summer, and sediments release phosphorus to deep water , where considerable ammonia signals low oxygen. Nitrogen to phosphorus ratios in the upper water are above 20:1 early in the summer but decline in late summer, which generally favor bluegreens over other algae species.
Lake Leota has no public access points, though residents should keep an eye on aquatic plants growing nearshore to catch early infestations of noxious aquatic weeds. Lake Leota has recently experienced aggressive growth by milfoil identified as native Myrio
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The average of these three TSI indicators during the growing season can be used to place lakes in one of three broad categories: <40 = oligotrophic (low productivity), 40 to 50 = mesotrophic (moderate productivity) >50 = eutrophic (highly productive).
