Lake Manatee
Lake Manatee in Manatee County, Florida is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 3.3 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 330 µg/L. Surface area: 2200 acres.
- Clarity
- 3.3 ft
- Area
- 2,200 acres
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- Yes
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Why Lake Manatee has no grade
We grade a lake only when the monitoring record supports a letter: at least three phosphorus or chlorophyll-a samples in the last ten years, scored against EPA National Lakes Assessment thresholds for this lake’s ecoregion. For Lake Manatee, no nutrient or algae measurement meets the evidence bar (at least 3 samples within 10 years). Sampling here has recorded water clarity and phosphorus, but not algae (chlorophyll-a).
Not Rated is not an F. It is EPA Integrated Reporting Category 3 — insufficient information. The water here may be excellent or poor; nobody has measured enough of it to say. Everything below that has been measured is still reported on this page.
Sampling is run by FDEP and volunteer programs, and published through the EPA Water Quality Portal. Read the full grading methodology.
Lake Manatee is a 2,200-acre lake in Manatee County, Florida. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, FDEP, last sampled 2023-07-25. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
Watch Lake Manatee water quality
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Swimming Safety
Not ratedBacteria advisory
Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake
Water quality measurements for Lake Manatee
These readings exist but are not enough for an A–F grade — see why.
Very murky, less than 3.3 ft of visibility. Phosphorus level: 330 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 74.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 3.3 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 330 µg/L | Not graded |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 74 | Hypereutrophic |
Very high nutrients, dense algae, poor clarity
Where to stay near Lake Manatee
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Lake Manatee in Manatee 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 Manatee
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Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 2,200 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
No bathymetric survey has been published for Lake Manatee, so its depth is not documented here.
Recreation & Access
- Lake Manatee State ParkPublic
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Fishing Lake Manatee
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.033 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -12.17 µg/L/yr | 6 |
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Lake Manatee is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Lake Manatee Dam (completed 1967), built primarily for water supply on the Manatee River; earth-type dam, 55 ft tall and 4,900 ft long.
- Surface area
- 2,200 ac
- Normal storage
- 18,300 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 39,200 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 0 sq mi
- Hazard class
- High
- Owner
- MANATEE COUNTY
All listed purposes: Water Supply;Recreation.
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID FL00280 · Operator website
EPA Impairment Status
Lake Manatee 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 FL1807B · Official waterbody report
Nearby Lakes in Manatee County
Frequently asked questions about Lake Manatee
Where is Lake Manatee?
- Lake Manatee is a lake in Manatee County, Florida. LakeQuality has not rated this lake (UNRATED) — no nutrient or algae measurement meets the evidence bar (at least 3 samples within 10 years).
What is the water quality grade for Lake Manatee?
- Lake Manatee in Manatee County, Florida is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 3.3 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 330 µg/L. Surface area: 2200 acres.
Is Lake Manatee safe to swim in?
- Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake. Lake Manatee is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
Are there boat ramps on Lake Manatee?
- Lake Manatee has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Lake Manatee State Park. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Lake Manatee across LakeQuality
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Where this data comes from
2 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 samples2 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
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory