Lake Tarpon Canal
Lake Tarpon Canal in Pinellas County, Florida has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 3.6 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 51 µg/L. Surface area: 2529 acres.
- Clarity
- 3.6 ft
- Typical in July
- 87°F
- Area
- 2,529 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
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Lake Tarpon Canal is a 2,529-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Pinellas County, Florida. Water quality is graded C based on 1 sampling years through 2024. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. Compared to the 33 other monitored lakes in Pinellas County, Lake Tarpon Canal ranks #11 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, FDEP, last sampled 2024-09-05. 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.
Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality
Water Quality Grade: C (Fair)
Murky, only visible to about 3.6 ft. Phosphorus level: 51 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 60.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 3.6 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 51 µg/L | Fair |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 60 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Lake Tarpon Canal
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Lake Tarpon Canal in Pinellas 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 Tarpon Canal
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Water Temperature
Lake Tarpon Canal typically sits around 87°F at the surface in July. Summer average is about 87°F. Usually warmest in Jun (about 87°F) and coldest in Feb (about 64°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 78 field readings (2011–2024) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Lake Tarpon Canal water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 2,529 acres |
No bathymetric survey has been published for Lake Tarpon Canal, so its depth is not documented here.
Fishing Lake Tarpon Canal
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 5 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.05 m/yr | 3 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +2.49 µg/L/yr | 4 |
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Lake Tarpon Canal is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Swfwmd Lake Tarpon Control Structure (S-551), built primarily for flood risk reduction on the Lake Tarpon; earth-type dam, 16 ft tall and 255 ft long.
- Surface area
- 2,529 ac
- Normal storage
- 7,756 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 24,447 ac-ft
- Hazard class
- Low
- Owner
- SWFWMD
All listed purposes: Flood Risk Reduction;Recreation;Water Supply.
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID FL78006 · Operator website · Matched by proximity (0.04 km)
EPA Impairment Status
Lake Tarpon Canal 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 FL1541A · Official waterbody report
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
3 EPA-permitted facilities operate within about 5 miles of Lake Tarpon Canal under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits, including 3 classified by the EPA as major dischargers. 2 facilities have a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Clearwater City Of Northeast WrfSafety Harbor · 1.8 mi away · NPDES FL0128937MajorRecent violation
- Oldsmar City OfOldsmar · 3.7 mi away · NPDES FL0027651MajorRecent violation
- Oldsmar, City OfOldsmar · 3 mi away · NPDES FLS648299Major
Facilities permitted to discharge under the Clean Water Act within ~5 miles; proximity does not by itself mean a facility affects this lake. Source: EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES), as of 2026-07.
County Ranking
Ranked #11 of 34 lakes in Pinellas County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Lake Tarpon Canal holds Grade C. One nearby lake has a higher nutrient-and-algae grade — useful for a swim day, not a reason to skip lodging here.
Nearby Lakes in Pinellas County
Frequently asked questions about Lake Tarpon Canal
Where is Lake Tarpon Canal?
- Lake Tarpon Canal is a lake in Pinellas County, Florida. LakeQuality grades it C for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Lake Tarpon Canal?
- Lake Tarpon Canal in Pinellas County, Florida has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 3.6 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 51 µg/L. Surface area: 2529 acres.
Is Lake Tarpon Canal safe to swim in?
- Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality. Lake Tarpon Canal has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Lake Tarpon Canal?
- Lake Tarpon Canal typically sits around 87°F at the surface in July, from 78 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2011–2024). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
Explore Lake Tarpon Canal across LakeQuality
More Florida Lake Rankings
Other Grade C Lakes in Florida
Eutrophic Lakes in Florida
Where this data comes from
17 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2020–2024. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Submitting organization not recorded for these samples17 samples · 2020–2024
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
Regulated discharger data from EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES)