Buck Lake
Buck Lake in Hillsborough County, Florida is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 2.4 ft visibility.
- Clarity
- 2.4 ft
- Typical in August
- 86°F
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
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Why Buck Lake has no grade
We grade a lake only when the monitoring record supports a letter: at least three phosphorus or chlorophyll-a samples in the last ten years, scored against EPA National Lakes Assessment thresholds for this lake’s ecoregion. For Buck Lake, the only measurement available is water clarity, which is not a water-quality indicator on its own — EPA's National Lakes Assessment does not grade clarity. Sampling here has recorded water clarity, but not phosphorus and algae (chlorophyll-a).
Not Rated is not an F. It is EPA Integrated Reporting Category 3 — insufficient information. The water here may be excellent or poor; nobody has measured enough of it to say. Everything below that has been measured is still reported on this page.
Sampling is run by FDEP and volunteer programs, and published through the EPA Water Quality Portal. Read the full grading methodology.
Buck Lake is a lake in Hillsborough County, Florida. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, FDEP, last sampled 2022-04-19. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Not ratedLimited data
Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake
Water quality measurements for Buck Lake
These readings exist but are not enough for an A–F grade — see why.
Very murky, less than 2.4 ft of visibility. Trophic State Index: 65.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 2.4 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | No recent samples | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 65 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Buck Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Buck Lake in Hillsborough 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
Availability and prices from Stay22 partners (Booking.com, Vrbo, Expedia). We may earn a commission from bookings, at no extra cost to you.
Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Florida’s top lakes →
Water Temperature
Buck Lake typically sits around 86°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 86°F. Usually warmest in Jun (about 88°F) and coldest in Jan (about 65°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 30 field readings (2011–2022) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Buck Lake water temperature breakdown →
Fishing Buck Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.186 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -3.09 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 FL1493D · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (1.86 km)
Graded lakes near Buck Lake
Buck Lake has no grade, but these lakes within a short drive do.
Nearby Lakes in Hillsborough County
Frequently asked questions about Buck Lake
Where is Buck Lake?
- Buck Lake is a lake in Hillsborough County, Florida. LakeQuality has not rated this lake (UNRATED) — the only measurement available is water clarity, which is not a water-quality indicator on its own — EPA's National Lakes Assessment does not grade clarity.
What is the water quality grade for Buck Lake?
- Buck Lake in Hillsborough County, Florida is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 2.4 ft visibility.
Is Buck Lake safe to swim in?
- Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake. Buck Lake is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. 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 30 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2011–2022). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
Explore Buck Lake across LakeQuality
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Where this data comes from
18 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2020–2022. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- North American Lake Management Society
NALMS18 samples · 2020–2022
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