Hillsborough-Forest Lake
Hillsborough-Forest Lake in Hillsborough County, Florida has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 1.8 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 63 µg/L.
- Clarity
- 1.8 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-Forest Lake →
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Hillsborough-Forest Lake is a productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Hillsborough County, Florida. Water quality is graded D based on 1 sampling years through 2024. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. Compared to the 123 other monitored lakes in Hillsborough County, Hillsborough-Forest Lake ranks #105 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, FDEP, last sampled 2024-04-07. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
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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.
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 1.8 ft of visibility. Phosphorus level: 63 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 66.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 1.8 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 63 µg/L | Poor |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 66 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Hillsborough-Forest Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Hillsborough-Forest 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-Forest Lake are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Hillsborough-Forest Lake
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Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Florida’s top lakes →
Fishing Hillsborough-Forest Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 5 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.14 m/yr | 4 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +1.4 µg/L/yr | 5 |
EPA Impairment Status
Hillsborough-Forest Lake 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 FL1402C · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (2.95 km)
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
5 EPA-permitted facilities operate within about 5 miles of Hillsborough-Forest Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits, including 3 classified by the EPA as major dischargers. 1 facility has a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Fdot District 7 - PascoTampa · 2.6 mi away · NPDES FLS267317Major
- Fdot District 7 - HillsboroughTampa · 2.6 mi away · NPDES FLS266221Major
- Temple Terrace - MS4Temple Terrace · 2.9 mi away · NPDES FLS000009Major
- University Of South FloridaTampa · 1.8 mi away · NPDES FL0702820Recent violation
- Busch Entertainment CorporatioTampa · 3.2 mi away · NPDES FL0186066
Facilities permitted to discharge under the Clean Water Act within ~5 miles; proximity does not by itself mean a facility affects this lake. Source: EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES), as of 2026-07.
County Ranking
Ranked #105 of 124 lakes in Hillsborough County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Hillsborough-Forest Lake holds Grade D. 3 nearby lakes hold higher nutrient-and-algae grades — useful for a swim day, not a reason to skip lodging here.
Nearby Lakes in Hillsborough County
Frequently asked questions about Hillsborough-Forest Lake
Where is Hillsborough-Forest Lake?
- Hillsborough-Forest 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-Forest Lake?
- Hillsborough-Forest Lake in Hillsborough County, Florida has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 1.8 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 63 µg/L.
Is Hillsborough-Forest 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-Forest Lake has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
Explore Hillsborough-Forest Lake across LakeQuality
More Florida Lake Rankings
Other Grade D Lakes in Florida
Eutrophic Lakes in Florida
Where this data comes from
27 measurements from 3 monitoring stations, 2023–2024. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- FLORIDA LAKEWATCH
21FLKWAT_WQX27 samples · 2023–2024
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
Regulated discharger data from EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES)