Blue Lake
Highlands County, FloridaView mapDirections
Florida DEP publishes the water-quality measurements for Blue Lake. Here is what has been measured.
- Eutrophic
- Public access
- Limited data
Blue Lake in Highlands County, Florida has water-quality measurements published by Florida DEP, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 1.3 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 15 µg/L.
Blue Lake is a productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Highlands County, Florida. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. 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. Methodology: how these readings are compared.
What Blue Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Boat launch1 documented ramp
Swimming conditions
Readings onlyLimited data
Based on clarity and algae readings from past sampling — there is no live water temperature and a current cyanobacteria reading for this lake. Check your state or county health department before you swim.
Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
Whether Blue Lake is safe to swim in today is a call for the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and the county health department, who post current advisories. LakeQuality does not issue swimming clearances.
Water quality measurements for Blue Lake
These are the measurements Florida DEP publishes for Blue Lake, shown as reported. The condition class beside each reading is the EPA National Lakes Assessment class for this lake’s ecoregion.
Very murky, less than 1.3 ft of visibility. Phosphorus 15 µg/L. TSI 58.
| Measure | Reading | Where it sits |
|---|---|---|
| Water clarity (Secchi depth) | 1.3ft | Measured, not scored How deep a black-and-white disk stays visible from the surface. Higher is clearer. |
| Total phosphorus | 15µg/L | Good GoodFairPoor |
| Chlorophyll-a (algae) | No reading The green pigment in algae — a direct measure of how much algae is in the water. | |
| Trophic state (TSI)Carlson's 0–100 index of how much algae a lake can support, from clarity, phosphorus and chlorophyll-a. | 58 | Eutrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Ask about Blue Lake
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
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.
Column height runs from this lake’s coldest month (72°F) to its warmest (86°F).
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 →
Recreation & Access
- H.L. Bishop Park Public Boat RampPublic
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Stays via Stay22
Stays 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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Fishing Blue Lake
Water Quality Trend: Improving
Based on 6 years of monitoring (2020–2025).
Water clarity
Improving6 years
Phosphorus
Stable-0.24 µg/L/yr6 years
Nearby Lakes in Highlands County
Frequently asked questions about Blue Lake
Where is Blue Lake?
- Blue Lake is a lake in Highlands County, Florida. Its water-quality measurements are published by Florida DEP and shown on this page as reported.
What is the water quality of Blue Lake?
- Blue Lake in Highlands County, Florida has water-quality measurements published by Florida DEP, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 1.3 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 15 µg/L.
Is Blue Lake safe to swim in?
- Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
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.
Are there boat ramps on Blue Lake?
- Blue Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include H.L. Bishop Park Public Boat Ramp. Public access is listed as yes.
Can I fish at Blue Lake?
- Blue Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Seasons, size and bag limits, and whether you need a license are set by Florida's fish and wildlife agency, so check its current regulations before you go.
Explore Blue Lake across LakeQuality
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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)
EPA condition classes from the National Lakes Assessment (EPA 841-R-24-006, Table 6-3), applied by ecoregion. See where the data comes from and data sources.
Other records on this page
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory