Lake Smart
Lake Smart in Polk County, Florida has a water quality grade of B (Good). Water clarity: 2 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 31 µg/L. Surface area: 1820 acres.
- Clarity
- 2 ft
- Typical in August
- 91°F
- Area
- 1,820 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Trend
- → Stable
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Lake Smart is a 1,820-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Polk County, Florida. Water quality is graded B based on 1 sampling years through 2023. Water clarity is declining over recent sampling years. Compared to the 176 other monitored lakes in Polk County, Lake Smart ranks #100 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, FDEP, last sampled 2023-08-16. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyLimited data
Based on clarity and algae grades from past sampling — we do not hold live water temperature and a current cyanobacteria reading for this lake. Check your state or county health department before you swim.
Good for swimming, clear water with low algae levels
Water Quality Grade: B (Good)
Very murky, less than 2 ft of visibility. Phosphorus level: 31 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 61.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 2 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 31 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 61 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Lake Smart
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Lake Smart in Polk County, Florida — live availability and prices for your trip. Switch the map to Satellite to see the lake and how close each stay is to the water.
Top-rated places to stay near Lake Smart
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Water Temperature
Lake Smart typically sits around 91°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 88°F. Usually warmest in Aug (about 91°F) and coldest in Apr (about 77°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 10 field readings (2017–2023) via the EPA Water Quality Portal.
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 1,820 acres |
No bathymetric survey has been published for Lake Smart, so its depth is not documented here.
Fishing Lake Smart
Water Quality Trend: → Stable
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.05 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -3.56 µg/L/yr | 6 |
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Lake Smart is a man-made reservoir impounded by the P-6 (completed 1965), built primarily for flood risk reduction on the P6 Canal; other-type dam, 22 ft tall and 46 ft long.
- Surface area
- 1,820 ac
- Normal storage
- 21,294 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 4,550 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 17.9 sq mi
- Hazard class
- Significant
- Owner
- SWFWMD
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID FL13000 · Operator website
EPA Impairment Status
Lake Smart is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2022 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).
Causes of impairment
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit FL1488A · Official waterbody report
County Ranking
Ranked #100 of 177 lakes in Polk County
Nearby Lakes in Polk County
Frequently asked questions about Lake Smart
Where is Lake Smart?
- Lake Smart is a lake in Polk County, Florida. LakeQuality grades it B for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Lake Smart?
- Lake Smart in Polk County, Florida has a water quality grade of B (Good). Water clarity: 2 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 31 µg/L. Surface area: 1820 acres.
Is Lake Smart safe to swim in?
- Good for swimming, clear water with low algae levels. Lake Smart has a water quality grade of B (Good). Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Lake Smart?
- Lake Smart typically sits around 91°F at the surface in August, from 10 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2017–2023). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
Explore Lake Smart across LakeQuality
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Where this data comes from
12 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2023. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Submitting organization not recorded for these samples12 samples · 2023
Monitoring station identifiers (1)
Grade thresholds from the EPA National Lakes Assessment (EPA 841-R-24-006, Table 6-3), applied by ecoregion. See how grades are calculated and data sources.
Other records on this page
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database