Gifford Lake
Gifford Lake in Orange County, Florida has a water quality grade of B (Good). Water clarity: 8.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 7 µg/L.
- Clarity
- 8.5 ft
- Typical in July
- 89°F
- Type
- Oligotrophic
- Trend
- → Stable
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Gifford Lake is a cold, clear oligotrophic lake in Orange County, Florida. Water quality is graded B based on 1 sampling years through 2025. Water clarity is improving over recent sampling years. Compared to the 319 other monitored lakes in Orange County, Gifford Lake ranks #227 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, FDEP, last sampled 2025-01-14. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyBacteria A
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.
Based on E. coli testing, Gifford Lake never exceeded the EPA safe-swimming threshold (235 MPN/100mL) — on 0% of 17 samples across 5 seasons.
This is a historical summary of past testing, not a current condition — bacteria levels change quickly, especially after rain. Always check Florida’s current beach and health-department advisories before swimming.
Water Quality Grade: B (Good)
Moderate clarity, visible to about 8.5 ft. Phosphorus level: 7 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 39.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 8.5 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 7 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 39 | Oligotrophic |
Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming
Where to stay near Gifford Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Gifford Lake in Orange 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 Gifford Lake
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Water Temperature
Gifford Lake typically sits around 89°F at the surface in July. Summer average is about 88°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 89°F) and coldest in Jan (about 63°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 22 field readings (2010–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Gifford Lake water temperature breakdown →
Fishing Gifford Lake
Water Quality Trend: → Stable
Based on 5 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.055 m/yr | 5 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +1.5 µg/L/yr | 5 |
County Ranking
Ranked #227 of 320 lakes in Orange County
Nearby Lakes in Orange County
Frequently asked questions about Gifford Lake
Where is Gifford Lake?
- Gifford Lake is a lake in Orange County, Florida. LakeQuality grades it B for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Gifford Lake?
- Gifford Lake in Orange County, Florida has a water quality grade of B (Good). Water clarity: 8.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 7 µg/L.
Is Gifford Lake safe to swim in?
- Based on E. coli testing, Gifford Lake never exceeded the EPA safe-swimming threshold (235 MPN/100mL) — on 0% of 17 samples across 5 seasons. That works out to a bacteria swim-safety grade of A — a historical summary of past testing, not a current reading. Gifford Lake has a water quality grade of B (Good). Bacteria levels can spike quickly after heavy rain, so always check Florida's current beach and health-department advisories before you swim.
What is the water temperature of Gifford Lake?
- Gifford Lake typically sits around 89°F at the surface in July, from 22 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2010–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
Explore Gifford Lake across LakeQuality
More Florida Lake Rankings
Other Grade B Lakes in Florida
Oligotrophic Lakes in Florida
Where this data comes from
39 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2021–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Submitting organization not recorded for these samples39 samples · 2021–2025
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.