Blue Cove Lake
Blue Cove Lake in Marion County, Florida has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 2.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 120 µg/L.
- Clarity
- 2.5 ft
- Typical in August
- 86°F
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Trend
- → Stable
Grade D measures nutrients and algae, not whether this is a good place for a cabin trip. Cabins and rentals near Blue Cove Lake →
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Blue Cove Lake is a productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Marion County, Florida. Water quality is graded D based on 1 sampling years through 2025. Water clarity is declining over recent sampling years. Compared to the 17 other monitored lakes in Marion County, Blue Cove Lake ranks #18 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, FDEP, last sampled 2025-07-28. 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.
Nutrients and algae run higher than average — check local advisories before swimming, and skip the water if you see scum
Water Quality Grade: D (Nutrient-rich)
Very murky, less than 2.5 ft of visibility. Phosphorus level: 120 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 69.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 2.5 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 120 µg/L | Poor |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 69 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Blue Cove Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Blue Cove Lake in Marion 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 Blue Cove Lake are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Blue Cove Lake
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Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Florida’s top lakes →
Water Temperature
Blue Cove Lake typically sits around 86°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 86°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 89°F) and coldest in Jan (about 61°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 25 field readings (2014–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Blue Cove Lake water temperature breakdown →
Fishing Blue Cove Lake
Water Quality Trend: → Stable
Based on 4 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.7 m/yr | 3 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -4.43 µg/L/yr | 4 |
EPA Impairment Status
Blue Cove Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2022 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).
Causes of impairment
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit FL1329V · Official waterbody report
County Ranking
Ranked #18 of 18 lakes in Marion County
Nearby Lakes in Marion County
Frequently asked questions about Blue Cove Lake
Where is Blue Cove Lake?
- Blue Cove Lake is a lake in Marion County, Florida. LakeQuality grades it D for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Blue Cove Lake?
- Blue Cove Lake in Marion County, Florida has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 2.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 120 µg/L.
Is Blue Cove Lake safe to swim in?
- Nutrients and algae run higher than average — check local advisories before swimming, and skip the water if you see scum. Blue Cove Lake has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Blue Cove Lake?
- Blue Cove Lake typically sits around 86°F at the surface in August, from 25 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2014–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
Explore Blue Cove Lake across LakeQuality
More Florida Lake Rankings
Other Grade D Lakes in Florida
Eutrophic Lakes in Florida
Where this data comes from
25 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 samples25 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