Alligator Lake
Alligator Lake in Columbia County, Florida has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 3 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 58 µg/L. Surface area: 116 acres.
- Clarity
- 3 ft
- Area
- 116 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- Yes
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Alligator Lake is a 116-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Columbia County, Florida. Water quality is graded C based on 1 sampling years through 2023. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 2 other monitored lakes in Columbia County, Alligator Lake ranks #3 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, FDEP, last sampled 2023-08-02. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyLimited data
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.
Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality
Water Quality Grade: C (Fair)
Very murky, less than 3 ft of visibility. Phosphorus level: 58 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 62.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 3 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 58 µg/L | Fair |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 62 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Alligator Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Alligator Lake in Columbia 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 Alligator Lake
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Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 116 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
No bathymetric survey has been published for Alligator Lake, so its depth is not documented here.
Recreation & Access
- Alligator Lake SouthPublic
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Fishing Alligator Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 4 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.237 m/yr | 4 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +7.59 µg/L/yr | 4 |
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Alligator Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Alligator Lake Dam, built primarily for recreation on the Alligator Lake; earth-type dam, 7 ft tall and 3,315 ft long.
- Surface area
- 116 ac
- Normal storage
- 1,932 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 1,932 ac-ft
- Hazard class
- Undetermined
- Owner
- COLUMBIA COUNTY
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID FL59001 · Operator website
EPA Impairment Status
Alligator 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 FL3516A · Official waterbody report
County Ranking
Ranked #3 of 3 lakes in Columbia County
Nearby Lakes in Columbia County
Frequently asked questions about Alligator Lake
Where is Alligator Lake?
- Alligator Lake is a lake in Columbia County, Florida. LakeQuality grades it C for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Alligator Lake?
- Alligator Lake in Columbia County, Florida has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 3 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 58 µg/L. Surface area: 116 acres.
Is Alligator Lake safe to swim in?
- Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality. Alligator Lake has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
Are there boat ramps on Alligator Lake?
- Alligator Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Alligator Lake South. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Alligator Lake across LakeQuality
7.6 mi away · 10 ft
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Florida's top lakes, each with its grade
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
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Where this data comes from
10 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 samples10 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