Buck Lake
Buck Lake in Highlands County, Florida has a water quality grade of B (Good). Water clarity: 13.8 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 3 µg/L.
- Clarity
- 13.8 ft
- Typical in August
- 86°F
- Type
- Oligotrophic
- Trend
- → Stable
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Buck Lake is a cold, clear oligotrophic lake in Highlands County, Florida. Water quality is graded B based on 1 sampling years through 2024. Water clarity is declining over recent sampling years. Compared to the 72 other monitored lakes in Highlands County, Buck Lake ranks #10 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, FDEP, last sampled 2024-11-12. 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)
Good clarity, visible to about 13.8 ft. Phosphorus level: 3 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 30.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 13.8 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 3 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 30 | Oligotrophic |
Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming
Where to stay near Buck Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Buck 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 Buck Lake
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Water Temperature
Buck Lake typically sits around 86°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 85°F. Usually warmest in Aug (about 86°F) and coldest in Feb (about 67°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 85 field readings (2010–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Buck Lake water temperature breakdown →
Fishing Buck 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 | -1.76 µg/L/yr | 6 |
EPA Impairment Status
Buck 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 FL1932I · Official waterbody report
County Ranking
Ranked #10 of 73 lakes in Highlands County
Nearby Lakes in Highlands County
Frequently asked questions about Buck Lake
Where is Buck Lake?
- Buck 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 Buck Lake?
- Buck Lake in Highlands County, Florida has a water quality grade of B (Good). Water clarity: 13.8 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 3 µg/L.
Is Buck Lake safe to swim in?
- Good for swimming, clear water with low algae levels. Buck Lake has a water quality grade of B (Good). Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Buck Lake?
- Buck Lake typically sits around 86°F at the surface in August, from 85 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2010–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
Explore Buck Lake across LakeQuality
More Florida Lake Rankings
Other Grade B Lakes in Florida
Oligotrophic Lakes in Florida
Where this data comes from
23 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2023–2024. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Submitting organization not recorded for these samples23 samples · 2023–2024
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