The lake has no natural, defined stream inflow (Fig. 1 &2).  Surface outflow occurs as overland or sheet flow through Corkscrew Swamp, when lake surface elevation exceeds 21 feet NGVD ( Price and Murray, 1996).  The lake may also discharge to the south through Camp Keais Strand.  The lake level responds to a combination of direct rainfall, overland flow, and shallow ground water influx.  Lake levels appear closely related to rainfall events during 1992 (Fig. 15), 1993 (Fig. 16), and 1994 (Fig. 17).  The lake also behaves as a sump lake directly affected by local groundwater as suggested by dry season lake level.  This hydrology indicates that the lake is likely to accumulates nutrients, since there is a lack of much outflow.

Water flow in the Lake Trafford watershed has been substantially affected by anthropogenic activity.  Surface water inflows and outflows have changed as a result of land development.  It appears from an initial survey, that prior to development, the lake received runoff from an area extending north of SR 82 and east to Okaloacoochee Slough.  The lake discharged toward the west into Corkscrew Swamp and south into Camp Keais.

The conceptual plan consists of four phases: