Highland Lake Center
Highland Lake Center in Hernando County, Florida has a water quality grade of B (Good). Water clarity: 1.6 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 22 µg/L.
- Clarity
- 1.6 ft
- Typical in August
- 86°F
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Trend
- → Stable
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Highland Lake Center is a productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Hernando County, Florida. Water quality is graded B based on 1 sampling years through 2022. Water clarity is improving over recent sampling years. Compared to the 8 other monitored lakes in Hernando County, Highland Lake Center ranks #3 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, FDEP, last sampled 2022-10-26. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
Watch Highland Lake Center water quality
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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)
Very murky, less than 1.6 ft of visibility. Phosphorus level: 22 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 59.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 1.6 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 22 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 59 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Highland Lake Center
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Highland Lake Center in Hernando 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 Highland Lake Center
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Water Temperature
Highland Lake Center typically sits around 86°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 86°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 89°F) and coldest in Dec (about 58°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 22 field readings (2010–2022) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Highland Lake Center water temperature breakdown →
Fishing Highland Lake Center
Water Quality Trend: → Stable
Based on 3 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.125 m/yr | 3 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +1 µg/L/yr | 3 |
EPA Impairment Status
Highland Lake Center is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2022 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 4A).
Causes of impairment
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit FL1382A · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (1.67 km)
County Ranking
Ranked #3 of 9 lakes in Hernando County
Nearby Lakes in Hernando County
Frequently asked questions about Highland Lake Center
Where is Highland Lake Center?
- Highland Lake Center is a lake in Hernando County, Florida. LakeQuality grades it B for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Highland Lake Center?
- Highland Lake Center in Hernando County, Florida has a water quality grade of B (Good). Water clarity: 1.6 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 22 µg/L.
Is Highland Lake Center safe to swim in?
- Good for swimming, clear water with low algae levels. Highland Lake Center has a water quality grade of B (Good). Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Highland Lake Center?
- Highland Lake Center typically sits around 86°F at the surface in August, from 22 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2010–2022). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
Explore Highland Lake Center across LakeQuality
More Florida Lake Rankings
Other Grade B Lakes in Florida
Eutrophic Lakes in Florida
Where this data comes from
18 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2021–2022. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Submitting organization not recorded for these samples18 samples · 2021–2022
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