Florida Lake
Florida Lake in Kandiyohi County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 12.3 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 20 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 3.8 µg/L. Maximum depth: 40 ft. Surface area: 705.39 acres.
- Clarity
- 12.3 ft
- Typical in August
- 73°F
- Max depth
- 40 ft
- Area
- 705 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- Yes
- Ice-out
- Apr 4
- Open water
- 238 days
Next lake in Kandiyohi County
Florida Lake is a 705-acre mesotrophic lake in Kandiyohi County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 40 feet. Water quality is graded A based on 2 sampling years through 2025. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 18 documented fish species including bigmouth buffalo, black bullhead, and black crappie. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 24 other monitored lakes in Kandiyohi County, Florida Lake ranks #2 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-09-23. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyLow algae
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.
Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae
Water Quality Grade: A (Excellent)
Good clarity, visible to about 12.3 ft. Phosphorus level: 20 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 3.8 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 44.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 12.3 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 20 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 3.8 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 44 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Florida Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Florida Lake in Kandiyohi County, Minnesota — 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 Florida Lake
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Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Minnesota’s top lakes →
Water Temperature
Florida Lake typically sits around 73°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 73°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 75°F) and coldest in May (about 55°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 18 field readings (2011–2021) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Florida Lake water temperature breakdown →
Blue-Green Algae (Cyanobacteria)
There’s no recent EPA CyAN cyanobacteria estimate for Florida Lake — clouds, ice, or an off-season gap in coverage. The most recent reading was moderate (66,069 cells/mL) on November 1, 2025.
Blue-green algae can appear and clear within days, so check your state’s current advisory before swimming. EPA CyAN ↗
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 40 ft |
| Surface Area | 705 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 4.4 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 38% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Florida LakePublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Florida Lake
Invasive & Introduced Species
Red chips are ecologically harmful invasive species. Gray chips are stocked or introduced fish that aren't a current ecological concern.
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
16 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2024-07-15 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Bluegill | 22.72 | 0.14 lb |
| JND | 17.09 | — |
| Black Bullhead | 16.93 | 0.45 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 16.62 | 0.11 lb |
| IOD | 8.75 | — |
| Largemouth Bass | 6.82 | 0.63 lb |
CPUE = catch per unit effort, averaged across surveys (excludes juvenile shoreline seining). Higher CPUE = more abundant in standardized sampling.
Length Distributions
Number of fish caught at each inch class in the most recent survey that recorded lengths. Red dashed line marks an approximate trophy threshold for that species.
Bluegill
Black Bullhead
Yellow Perch
Largemouth Bass
From the 2024-07-15 survey
A standard survey of Lake Florida was conducted in July of 2024. A targeted survey is generally used for sampling a specific kind of fish or time of year (i.e., spawning season, fall season, etc.) unlike a standard survey which samples a wider range of fish species during the summer months using standard methodology…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Florida Lake. 3 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — FloridaFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — FloridaFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — FloridaPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.279 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +2.3 µg/L/yr | 6 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +1.66 µg/L/yr | 6 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (10 observations).
Estimated open water season: 238 days
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2007-03-30 (2007) | 2002-04-15 (2002) |
| Ice-In | 1996-11-18 (1996) | 2001-12-20 (2001) |
Most recent ice-out: 2007-03-30
EPA Impairment Status
Florida Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).
Causes of impairment
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MN34-0217-00 · Official waterbody report
County Ranking
Ranked #2 of 25 lakes in Kandiyohi County
Nearby Lakes in Kandiyohi County
Frequently asked questions about Florida Lake
What is the water quality grade for Florida Lake?
- Florida Lake in Kandiyohi County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 12.3 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 20 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 3.8 µg/L. Maximum depth: 40 ft. Surface area: 705.39 acres.
Is Florida Lake safe to swim in?
- Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae. Florida Lake has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 3.8 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Florida Lake?
- Florida Lake typically sits around 73°F at the surface in August, from 18 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2011–2021). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Florida Lake?
- Florida Lake has a maximum depth of 40 feet. The lake covers 705.39 acres.
What fish are in Florida Lake?
- Fish species found in Florida Lake include bigmouth buffalo, black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, bowfin (dogfish), brown bullhead, common carp, freshwater drum, green sunfish, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, shortnose gar, walleye, white sucker, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Florida Lake is located in Kandiyohi County, Minnesota.
When does Florida Lake thaw?
- Florida Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 4. Ice typically forms around Nov 28. The open water season is approximately 238 days.
Does Florida Lake have blue-green algae?
- There is no recent EPA CyAN cyanobacteria estimate for Florida Lake (clouds, ice, or an off-season gap). The most recent reading was moderate (66,069 cells/mL). Blue-green algae can appear and clear within days, so check Minnesota's current advisory before swimming.
Are there boat ramps on Florida Lake?
- Florida Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Florida Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Florida Lake across LakeGrade
Depth, room, public access, and the state wake-sport rules
Fish species and top-graded lakes across Minnesota
Fish species and best lakes in Kandiyohi County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Minnesota's top lakes, each with its grade
Lakes in the Crow River Watershed, ranked by water quality
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Minnesota's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
More Minnesota Lake Rankings
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Mesotrophic Lakes in Minnesota
Compare Florida Lake With Nearby Lakes
Kandiyohi County · Grade A
Kandiyohi County · Grade C
Kandiyohi County · Grade A
Kandiyohi County · Grade D
Kandiyohi County · Grade F
Kandiyohi County · Grade C
Where this data comes from
64 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2020–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA64 samples · 2020–2025
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Two Reagent Colorimetry
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
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
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Lake details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory
Ice data from Minnesota DNR Climate