Highlands County Lake Quality

Florida, 96 lakes, average grade B (Good)

Highlands County has 96 graded 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 grade distribution reflects that mix. The county-wide average lands at B — solid water quality with most lakes carrying clear summer transparency and low-to-moderate phosphorus.

The county's lakes lean shallow, which makes the grades sensitive to wind, sediment-resuspension, and any nutrient inputs from the watershed. The cleanest lake on the books is Highlands-Sirena Lake (B); the most-stressed is Highlands-Josephine Center Lake (D).

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Quick Answers for Highlands County

Cleanest lakes in Highlands County →Cleanest lakes in Florida →Safest swimming lakes in Florida →

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

All Lakes in Highlands County

96 lakes · 66 graded, 30 not rated66 graded lakes · 30 not rated, hidden

Include not-rated lakes (30)

#	Lake	Grade	Clarity	Phosphorus	Algae	Trophic	Access
1	BHighlands-Sirena LakeHighlands	B	16 ft	8 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
2	BHighlands-Verona LakeHighlands	B	13.2 ft	12 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
3	BLake GlenadaHighlands	B	2.3 ft	40 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
4	BHighlands-Denton LakeHighlands	B	23.4 ft	5 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
5	BHighlands-Persimmon LakeHighlands	B	2 ft	24 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
6	BHighlands-Annie LakeHighlands	B	7 ft	9 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
7	BLittle Lake JacksonHighlands	B	5.2 ft	23 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
8	BHighlands-Lelia LakeHighlands	B	4 ft	13 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
9	BHighlands-Little Bonnet LakeHighlands	B	2 ft	24 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	✓ Public
10	BBuck LakeHighlands	B	13.8 ft	3 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
11	BHighlands-June North LakeHighlands	B	4.8 ft	14 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
12	BHighlands-Placid LakeHighlands	B	4.3 ft	15 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
13	BLake JuneHighlands	B	5.2 ft	9 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
14	BHighlands-Lotela LakeHighlands	B	7 ft	14 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
15	BHighlands-Letta LakeHighlands	B	7 ft	18 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
16	BHighlands-Red Beach LakeHighlands	B	3.5 ft	15 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	✓ Public
17	BHighlands-Sebring LakeHighlands	B	5.1 ft	31 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
18	BHighlands-Adelaide LakeHighlands	B	7 ft	13 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	✓ Public
19	BHighlands-Little Redwater LakeHighlands	B	4.8 ft	30 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
20	BLake FrancisHighlands	B	4.6 ft	12 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	✓ Public
21	BHighlands-Apthorpe LakeHighlands	B	5 ft	13 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
22	BHighlands-Glenada LakeHighlands	B	2.9 ft	43 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
23	BHighlands-Josephine East LakeHighlands	B	2 ft	41.5 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	✓ Public
24	BHighlands-Dinner LakeHighlands	B	9 ft	10 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
25	BHighlands-Olivia LakeHighlands	B	6 ft	12 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	✓ Public
26	BHighlands-Damon LakeHighlands	B	8 ft	17 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
27	BLake ApthorpeHighlands	B	4.3 ft	11.5 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	✓ Public
28	BHighlands-Tulane LakeHighlands	B	17 ft	7 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
29	BLake Placid @ CenterHighlands	B	4.3 ft	12 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
30	BHighlands-June LakeHighlands	B	5 ft	13 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
31	BHighlands-Huntley LakeHighlands	B	8.3 ft	15 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	✓ Public
32	BLake VeronaHighlands	B	11.3 ft	9 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	✓ Public
33	BHighlands-Lillian LakeHighlands	B	13.5 ft	11 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	✓ Public
34	BHighlands-Lynn LakeHighlands	B	11.3 ft	9 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
35	BHighlands-Pioneer LakeHighlands	B	7 ft	11 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	✓ Public
36	BHighlands-Pythias LakeHighlands	B	5.4 ft	19 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
37	BHighlands-Jackson LakeHighlands	B	10.5 ft	14 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
38	BHighlands-Carrie LakeHighlands	B	3 ft	29 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
39	BLake DentonHighlands	B	17.7 ft	3 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	✓ Public
40	BHighlands-Viola LakeHighlands	B	6.8 ft	12 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
41	BBuck Lake @ MiddleHighlands	B	19 ft	3 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
42	BLake TulaneHighlands	B	14.8 ft	6 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	✓ Public
43	BHighlands-Pearl LakeHighlands	B	15.7 ft	11 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
44	BHighlands-Little Jackson LakeHighlands	B	7.2 ft	25 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
45	BLake AngeloHighlands	B	2 ft	20 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
46	BHighlands-Clay LakeHighlands	B	6 ft	16 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
47	BLake AnnieHighlands	B	5.9 ft	10 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
48	BLake LotelaHighlands	B	7.2 ft	11 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	✓ Public
49	BLake AnokaHighlands	B	10.7 ft	8 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	✓ Public
50	BLake LettaHighlands	B	4.9 ft	17 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	✓ Public
51	BLake DamonHighlands	B	6.6 ft	12 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
52	BLake HenryHighlands	B	3.6 ft	16 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
53	BLake Little Red WaterHighlands	B	1.6 ft	41.5 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	✓ Public
54	BHighlands-Grassy LakeHighlands	B	5 ft	12.5 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
55	BRed Water LakeHighlands	B	3.3 ft	14 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
56	BBlue LakeHighlands	B	1.3 ft	15 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
57	BLake CarrieHighlands	B	2.8 ft	27 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
58	BLkeplacid LakeHighlands	B	4.6 ft	13 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
59	CHuckleberry LakeHighlands	C	3.6 ft	49 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
60	DHighlands-Josephine Center LakeHighlands	D	1.8 ft	61.5 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	✓ Public
61	DHighlands-Josephine West LakeHighlands	D	1.5 ft	92 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	✓ Public
62	DHighlands-Wolf LakeHighlands	D	1 ft	229.5 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	✓ Public
63	DHighlands-Istokpoga North LakeHighlands	D	2 ft	74 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
64	DHighlands-August LakeHighlands	D	2.5 ft	65 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
65	DHighlands-Istokpoga LakeHighlands	D	1.8 ft	90.5 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	✓ Public
66	DLake IstokpogaHighlands	D	1 ft	62 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	NRHighlands-Deer LakeHighlands	NR	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	NRBlue Lake @ CenterHighlands	NR	7.2 ft	15.5 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	NRHighlands-Francis LakeHighlands	NR	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	NRHighlands-Redwater LakeHighlands	NR	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	NRLake PearlHighlands	NR	10.5 ft	8 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	NRLake GrassyHighlands	NR	4.3 ft	9 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	NRLake JacksonHighlands	NR	2.6 ft	28 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	NRPearl Lake @ CenterHighlands	NR	14.8 ft	8 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	NRHuckleberry Lake Canal EntranceHighlands	NR	3 ft	48.5 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	NRLake SebringHighlands	NR	2.5 ft	68 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	✓ Public
	NRPersimmon LakeHighlands	NR	0.7 ft	17 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	✓ Public
	NRLake ClayHighlands	NR	2.5 ft	15 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	✓ Public
	NRPublic Boat Ramp Lake GlenadaHighlands	NR	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	✓ Public
	NRLake Rachard @ CenterHighlands	NR	8.2 ft	15 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	NRLake CarrieHighlands	NR	3.3 ft	31 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	✓ Public
	NRLake LeliaHighlands	NR	3.6 ft	10 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	NRHighlands County LakeHighlands	NR	1.6 ft	39 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	NRHighlands County LakeHighlands	NR	2.6 ft	11 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	NRSaddlebags LakeHighlands	NR	5.9 ft	10 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	NRLakesirenaHighlands	NR	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	NRDinnerlakeHighlands	NR	9.2 ft	10 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	✓ Public
	NRLakeHighlands	NR	12.8 ft	5 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	NRLake ViolaHighlands	NR	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	✓ Public
	NRHog LakeHighlands	NR	5.9 ft	12 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	NRLake PlacidHighlands	NR	3.9 ft	15 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	NRLake Bonnet Boat RampHighlands	NR	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	NRPerismmon LakeHighlands	NR	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	NRLittle Lake GrassyHighlands	NR	3 ft	14.5 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	NRLittlered LakeHighlands	NR	5.9 ft	18 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	NRLake AngeloHighlands	NR	2 ft	20 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded

NR = not rated: there is not enough recent sampling to support a letter. That is EPA Integrated Reporting Category 3 (insufficient information), not a failing grade. How grading works.

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Other Counties in Florida

Bay County

17 lakes · Avg grade B

Miami-Dade County

9 lakes · Avg grade B

Washington County

11 lakes · Avg grade B

Santa Rosa County

1 lake · Avg grade B

Wakulla County

6 lakes · Avg grade B

Jackson County

7 lakes · Avg grade B

See how Highlands County stacks up in the national county water-quality rankings, or browse the full directory of graded lakes across all 49 states and 2 Canadian provinces.

Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.