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

Sarasota County Lake Quality

Florida, 26 lakes, measured by Florida DEP

The county-level average smooths over real differences — a single agricultural watershed near the southwest corner can pull the average down even if the rest of the county runs clean. 21 of those lakes carry recent nutrient and algae readings. The county-level summary describes that subset, not every water body listed. The county's readings sit in the middle of the Florida range, with one or two lakes pulling the average up or down depending on year.

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. Sarasota-Bobcat Lake has the lowest nutrient and algae readings in the county.

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Quick Answers for Sarasota County

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

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

All Lakes in Sarasota County

26 lakes · 21 ranked on readings, 5 without enough sampling21 lakes ranked on readings · 5 without enough sampling, hidden

Include not-rated lakes (5)

#	Lake	Clarity	Phosphorus	Algae	Trophic	Access
1	Sarasota-Bobcat LakeSarasota	3.8 ft	33 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	✓ Public
2	Sarasota-Awesome LakeSarasota	3.8 ft	36 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
3	Sarasota-South LakeSarasota	6.5 ft	25 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
4	Sarasota-Sundrop LakeSarasota	3.3 ft	34 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
5	Sarasota-North LakeSarasota	3 ft	22 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
6	Sarasota-LakeSarasota	2.5 ft	58 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
7	Sarasota-Center LakeSarasota	7.5 ft	47 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
8	Sarasota-Lake-GSarasota	3.8 ft	77.5 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
9	Sarasota-Heron Lagoon LakeSarasota	3.5 ft	74.5 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	✓ Public
10	Sarasota-Cormorant LakeSarasota	2.4 ft	164.5 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
11	Sarasota-Uplands LakeSarasota	0.8 ft	330 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	✓ Public
12	Sarasota-Lake-MSarasota	2.5 ft	136 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	✓ Public
13	Sarasota-Upper Myakka LakeSarasota	2 ft	387 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
14	Sarasota-Egret LakeSarasota	4.2 ft	240.5 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
15	Sarasota-Heron LakeSarasota	2.5 ft	65 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
16	Sarasota-Vaas LakeSarasota	1.7 ft	402.5 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	✓ Public
17	Sarasota-Pinebrook South LakeSarasota	2 ft	62 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	✓ Public
18	Sarasota-Moondrop LakeSarasota	2.8 ft	77 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	✓ Public
19	Sarasota-Lower Myakka LakeSarasota	2.2 ft	275 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
20	Venice Gardens LakeSarasota	1 ft	177 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
21	Red Bug Slough LakeSarasota	No recent samples	141 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	Sarasota-Spoonbill LakeSarasota	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	Lake SarasotaSarasota	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	Lake SarasotaSarasota	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	Knight LakeSarasota	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	Red LakeSarasota	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.