Blue Lake
Blue Lake in Highlands County, Florida has a water quality grade of B (Good). Water clarity: 1.3 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 15 µg/L.
- Clarity
- 1.3 ft
- Typical in June
- 86°F
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
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Blue Lake is a productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Highlands County, Florida. Water quality is graded B based on 1 sampling years through 2023. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. Compared to the 72 other monitored lakes in Highlands County, Blue Lake ranks #57 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, FDEP, last sampled 2023-07-06. 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)
Very murky, less than 1.3 ft of visibility. Phosphorus level: 15 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 58.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 1.3 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 15 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 58 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Blue Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Blue Lake in Highlands 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 Blue Lake
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Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Florida’s top lakes →
Water Temperature
Blue Lake typically sits around 86°F at the surface in June. Summer average is about 86°F. Usually warmest in Jun (about 86°F) and coldest in Feb (about 72°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 12 field readings (2012–2023) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Blue Lake water temperature breakdown →
Fishing Blue Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.16 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | → Stable | -0.24 µg/L/yr | 6 |
EPA Impairment Status
Blue 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 FL1932M · Official waterbody report
County Ranking
Ranked #57 of 73 lakes in Highlands County
Nearby Lakes in Highlands County
Frequently asked questions about Blue Lake
Where is Blue Lake?
- Blue Lake is a lake in Highlands County, Florida. LakeQuality grades it B for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Blue Lake?
- Blue Lake in Highlands County, Florida has a water quality grade of B (Good). Water clarity: 1.3 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 15 µg/L.
Is Blue Lake safe to swim in?
- Good for swimming, clear water with low algae levels. Blue Lake has a water quality grade of B (Good). Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Blue Lake?
- Blue Lake typically sits around 86°F at the surface in June, from 12 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2012–2023). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
Explore Blue Lake across LakeQuality
More Florida Lake Rankings
Other Grade B Lakes in Florida
Eutrophic Lakes in Florida
Where this data comes from
19 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 samples19 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