Hillsborough-East Lake
Hillsborough-East Lake in Hillsborough County, Florida has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 1.3 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 73.5 µg/L.
- Clarity
- 1.3 ft
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
Grade D measures nutrients and algae, not whether this is a good place for a cabin trip. Cabins and rentals near Hillsborough-East Lake →
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Hillsborough-East Lake is a productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Hillsborough County, Florida. Water quality is graded D based on 1 sampling years through 2025. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. Compared to the 123 other monitored lakes in Hillsborough County, Hillsborough-East Lake ranks #100 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, FDEP, last sampled 2025-04-13. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
Watch Hillsborough-East Lake water quality
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyBacteria advisory
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.
Nutrients and algae run higher than average — check local advisories before swimming, and skip the water if you see scum
Water Quality Grade: D (Nutrient-rich)
Very murky, less than 1.3 ft of visibility. Phosphorus level: 73.5 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 70.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 1.3 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 73.5 µg/L | Poor |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 70 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Hillsborough-East Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Hillsborough-East 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. The water-quality grade measures nutrients and algae, not lodging — cabins and rentals around Hillsborough-East Lake are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Hillsborough-East Lake
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Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Florida’s top lakes →
Fishing Hillsborough-East Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.25 m/yr | 5 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +3.34 µg/L/yr | 6 |
EPA Impairment Status
Hillsborough-East Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2022 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).
Causes of impairment
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit FL1579A · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (0.04 km)
County Ranking
Ranked #100 of 124 lakes in Hillsborough County
Nearby Lakes in Hillsborough County
Frequently asked questions about Hillsborough-East Lake
Where is Hillsborough-East Lake?
- Hillsborough-East Lake is a lake in Hillsborough County, Florida. LakeQuality grades it D for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Hillsborough-East Lake?
- Hillsborough-East Lake in Hillsborough County, Florida has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 1.3 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 73.5 µg/L.
Is Hillsborough-East Lake safe to swim in?
- Nutrients and algae run higher than average — check local advisories before swimming, and skip the water if you see scum. Hillsborough-East Lake has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
Explore Hillsborough-East Lake across LakeQuality
More Florida Lake Rankings
Other Grade D Lakes in Florida
Eutrophic Lakes in Florida
Where this data comes from
246 measurements from 3 monitoring stations, 2021–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- FLORIDA LAKEWATCH
21FLKWAT_WQX246 samples · 2021–2025
Monitoring station identifiers (3)
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