Late afternoon sun over Slim Lake, scattering a bright path across wind-textured water

Alachua County Lake Quality

Florida, 78 lakes, measured by Florida DEP

Alachua County has 78 monitored lakes, enough that within-county variation matters as much as the county average. Some are deep glacial basins, others are shallow agricultural-watershed waters, and the measurements reflect that mix. 22 of those lakes carry recent nutrient and algae readings. The county-level summary describes that subset, not every water body listed. For Alachua County the spread behind the average matters more than the average itself: a few nutrient-rich lakes among many clear ones produce the same figure as the inverse.

Most of the county's monitored lakes are shallow, under 50 feet, which means wind keeps the water column mixed all summer and sediment-bound phosphorus releases back into the surface layer whenever the bottom is disturbed. Alachua-Elizabeth Lake has the lowest nutrient and algae readings in the county.

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Quick Answers for Alachua County

Cleanest lakes in Alachua County →Cleanest lakes in Florida →Best swimming lakes in Florida →

Planning a trip? Check special fishing regulations for Alachua-Elizabeth Lake — or check the official Florida fishing regulations.

All Lakes in Alachua County

78 lakes · 22 ranked on readings, 56 without enough sampling22 lakes ranked on readings · 56 without enough sampling, hidden

Include not-rated lakes (56)

#	Lake	Clarity	Phosphorus	Algae	Trophic	Max Depth	Access
1	Alachua-Elizabeth LakeAlachua	3 ft	16 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
2	Olc LakeAlachua	2 ft	36.8 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
3	Alachua-Melrose Bay LakeAlachua	7 ft	14 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	✓ Public
4	Alachua-Alto LakeAlachua	3.5 ft	21.5 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
5	Alachua-Little Santa Fe LakeAlachua	5.5 ft	18 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
6	Lol LakeAlachua	1.5 ft	37.2 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
7	Alachua-Santa Fe Canal Mouth LakeAlachua	6.8 ft	15 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
8	Alachua-Watermelon PondAlachua	No recent samples	7 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
9	Alachua-Orange LakeAlachua	2 ft	53 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
10	Alachua-Jeffords LakeAlachua	2.5 ft	48 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
11	Alicetst LakeAlachua	3.3 ft	470 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
12	Alachua-Wauberg LakeAlachua	2.4 ft	124 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	✓ Public
13	Alachua-Lochloosa LakeAlachua	2 ft	77 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
14	Alachua-Newnan LakeAlachua	1.3 ft	198 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
15	New LakeAlachua	1 ft	79.8 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
16	Alachua-Little Orange LakeAlachua	2.8 ft	176 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
17	Alachua-Holden PondAlachua	2.9 ft	113 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	✓ Public
18	Alachua-Kingswood LakeAlachua	2.5 ft	156.5 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
19	Bivens Arm LakeAlachua	1 ft	148 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
20	Bivensarm LakeAlachua	0.7 ft	175 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
21	Hammocklak LakeAlachua	1.3 ft	225 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
22	Alachua-Alice LakeAlachua	5 ft	439 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	Lake WaubergAlachua	2.2 ft	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	WatpondAlachua	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	Blackpot LakeAlachua	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	Center of Lake Santa FeAlachua	8.7 ft	14 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	Alachua-Surya Kund LakeAlachua	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	Little Orange Lake South ShoreAlachua	3 ft	170 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	Little Orange Lake North ShoreAlachua	1.3 ft	240 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	✓ Public
	Lochloosa LakeAlachua	0.8 ft	49 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	Newnsotst LakeAlachua	1.3 ft	74 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	✓ Public
	Clear LakeAlachua	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	Lake Wauberg-NwAlachua	7.2 ft	150 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	Alachua-Jonesville Quarry LakeAlachua	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	Orange Lake Hab CenterAlachua	1.8 ft	84 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	✓ Public
	Mcintosh Bay @ Hb Boat Ramp LakeAlachua	3.6 ft	210 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	✓ Public
	Newnan'S LakeAlachua	1 ft	250 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	✓ Public
	Lake Wauberg End of Uf DockAlachua	2.3 ft	250 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	Alachua-Moon LakeAlachua	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	Santa Fe Lake-Melrose BayAlachua	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	Lake Wauberg Hab CenterAlachua	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	Mcintosh Bay @ Fish Camp LakeAlachua	2.5 ft	31.5 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	Mcbaysouth LakeAlachua	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	Mcbayorng LakeAlachua	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	Newnans LakeAlachua	2 ft	50 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	Lochlcntr LakeAlachua	1.3 ft	41 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	CalfpondAlachua	2.6 ft	110 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	Lake Santa FeAlachua	2.6 ft	13 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	Depot Pond-GainesvilleAlachua	No recent samples	230 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	Orange Lake-Acepd Algae BloomAlachua	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	Half Moon PondAlachua	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	Blue Pete LakeAlachua	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	Jake White PondAlachua	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	Parchman PondAlachua	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	Horseshoe PondAlachua	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	Horseshoe PondAlachua	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	Ledwith LakeAlachua	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	Levy LakeAlachua	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	Stafford PondAlachua	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	Chacala PondAlachua	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	Lowman PondAlachua	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	Hay LakeAlachua	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	Fish PondAlachua	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	Hog PondAlachua	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	Grass PondAlachua	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	Tuscawilla LakeAlachua	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	Watson PrairieAlachua	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	Right Arm Lochloosa LakeAlachua	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	Little Lochloosa LakeAlachua	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	Tillmans PondAlachua	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	Johnson LakeAlachua	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	✓ Public
	Bonnet LakeAlachua	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	10 ft	Not recorded
	Black LakeAlachua	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	Hickory PondAlachua	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	Trout LakeAlachua	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	Lake KanapahaAlachua	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	Burnetts LakeAlachua	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	Sunshine LakeAlachua	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded

NR = no nutrient or algae reading on record. The measurements are published as the authority reports them. Where the data comes from.

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Source: the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. See data sources.