Alligator Creek Lake
Alligator Creek Lake in Pinellas County, Florida has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Phosphorus: 155 µg/L.
- Typical in August
- 87°F
- Type
- Hypereutrophic
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
Grade D measures nutrients and algae, not whether this is a good place for a cabin trip. Cabins and rentals near Alligator Creek Lake →
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Alligator Creek Lake is a highly nutrient-loaded hypereutrophic lake in Pinellas County, Florida. Water quality is graded D based on 1 sampling years through 2025. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. Compared to the 33 other monitored lakes in Pinellas County, Alligator Creek Lake ranks #32 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, FDEP, last sampled 2025-01-29. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyBacteria D
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.
Based on E. coli testing, Alligator Creek Lake frequently exceeded the EPA safe-swimming threshold (235 MPN/100mL) — on 12.5% of 56 samples across 8 seasons.
This is a historical summary of past testing, not a current condition — bacteria levels change quickly, especially after rain. Always check Florida’s current beach and health-department advisories before swimming.
Water Quality Grade: D (Nutrient-rich)
No clarity data. Phosphorus level: 155 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 77.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | No recent samples | |
| Phosphorus | 155 µg/L | Poor |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 77 | Hypereutrophic |
Very high nutrients, dense algae, poor clarity
Where to stay near Alligator Creek Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Alligator Creek Lake 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. The water-quality grade measures nutrients and algae, not lodging — cabins and rentals around Alligator Creek Lake are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Alligator Creek Lake
Availability and prices from Stay22 partners (Booking.com, Vrbo, Expedia). We may earn a commission from bookings, at no extra cost to you.
Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Florida’s top lakes →
Water Temperature
Alligator Creek Lake typically sits around 87°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 85°F. Usually warmest in Aug (about 87°F) and coldest in Jan (about 62°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 133 field readings (2010–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Alligator Creek Lake water temperature breakdown →
Fishing Alligator Creek Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 5 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.354 m/yr | 5 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +13 µg/L/yr | 5 |
EPA Impairment Status
Alligator Creek Lake 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 FL1574 · Official waterbody report
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
1 EPA-permitted facility operate within about 5 miles of Alligator Creek Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits, including 1 classified by the EPA as major discharger. 1 facility has a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Clearwater City Of East AwwtpClearwater · 1.1 mi away · NPDES FL0021865MajorRecent violation
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 #32 of 34 lakes in Pinellas County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Alligator Creek Lake holds Grade D. One nearby lake has a higher nutrient-and-algae grade — useful for a swim day, not a reason to skip lodging here.
See full comparison →Nearby Lakes in Pinellas County
Frequently asked questions about Alligator Creek Lake
Where is Alligator Creek Lake?
- Alligator Creek Lake is a lake in Pinellas County, Florida. LakeQuality grades it D for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Alligator Creek Lake?
- Alligator Creek Lake in Pinellas County, Florida has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Phosphorus: 155 µg/L.
Is Alligator Creek Lake safe to swim in?
- Based on E. coli testing, Alligator Creek Lake frequently exceeded the EPA safe-swimming threshold (235 MPN/100mL) — on 12.5% of 56 samples across 8 seasons. That works out to a bacteria swim-safety grade of D — a historical summary of past testing, not a current reading. Alligator Creek Lake has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Bacteria levels can spike quickly after heavy rain, so always check Florida's current beach and health-department advisories before you swim.
What is the water temperature of Alligator Creek Lake?
- Alligator Creek Lake typically sits around 87°F at the surface in August, from 133 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2010–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
Explore Alligator Creek Lake across LakeQuality
More Florida Lake Rankings
Other Grade D Lakes in Florida
Hillsborough County · 2.4 ft
Pasco County · 1 ft
Hillsborough County · 2.5 ft
Hillsborough County · Nutrient-rich
Hillsborough County · 2 ft
Hillsborough County · Nutrient-rich
Hypereutrophic Lakes in Florida
Where this data comes from
40 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2020–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Submitting organization not recorded for these samples40 samples · 2020–2025
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)