Bear Lake
Bear Lake in Seminole County, Florida has a water quality grade of B (Good). Water clarity: 5.9 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 14 µg/L.
- Clarity
- 5.9 ft
- Typical in August
- 88°F
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Trend
- → Stable
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Bear Lake is a mesotrophic lake in Seminole County, Florida. Water quality is graded B based on 1 sampling years through 2025. Water clarity is declining over recent sampling years. Compared to the 121 other monitored lakes in Seminole County, Bear Lake ranks #59 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, FDEP, last sampled 2025-04-01. 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.
Good for swimming, clear water with low algae levels
Water Quality Grade: B (Good)
Murky, only visible to about 5.9 ft. Phosphorus level: 14 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 47.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 5.9 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 14 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 47 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Bear Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Bear Lake in Seminole 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 Bear Lake
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Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Florida’s top lakes →
Water Temperature
Bear Lake typically sits around 88°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 89°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 89°F) and coldest in Feb (about 61°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 58 field readings (2010–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Bear Lake water temperature breakdown →
Fishing Bear Lake
Water Quality Trend: → Stable
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.221 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -1.2 µg/L/yr | 5 |
EPA Impairment Status
Bear Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2022 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 4A).
Causes of impairment
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit FL3004A · Official waterbody report
County Ranking
Ranked #59 of 122 lakes in Seminole County
Nearby Lakes in Seminole County
Frequently asked questions about Bear Lake
Where is Bear Lake?
- Bear Lake is a lake in Seminole County, Florida. LakeQuality grades it B for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Bear Lake?
- Bear Lake in Seminole County, Florida has a water quality grade of B (Good). Water clarity: 5.9 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 14 µg/L.
Is Bear Lake safe to swim in?
- Good for swimming, clear water with low algae levels. Bear Lake has a water quality grade of B (Good). Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Bear Lake?
- Bear Lake typically sits around 88°F at the surface in August, from 58 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2010–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
Explore Bear Lake across LakeQuality
More Florida Lake Rankings
Other Grade B Lakes in Florida
Mesotrophic Lakes in Florida
Where this data comes from
42 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 samples42 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