Hillsborough-Garden Lake
Hillsborough-Garden Lake in Hillsborough County, Florida has a water quality grade of B (Good). Water clarity: 4.3 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 21.5 µg/L.
- Clarity
- 4.3 ft
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
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Hillsborough-Garden Lake is a productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Hillsborough County, Florida. Water quality is graded B based on 1 sampling years through 2021. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. Compared to the 123 other monitored lakes in Hillsborough County, Hillsborough-Garden Lake ranks #17 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, FDEP, last sampled 2021-08-29. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
Watch Hillsborough-Garden Lake 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)
Murky, only visible to about 4.3 ft. Phosphorus level: 21.5 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 52.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 4.3 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 21.5 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 52 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Hillsborough-Garden Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Hillsborough-Garden 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.
Top-rated places to stay near Hillsborough-Garden Lake
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Fishing Hillsborough-Garden Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 5 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +1.04 m/yr | 5 |
| Phosphorus | → Stable | -0.25 µg/L/yr | 5 |
EPA Impairment Status
Hillsborough-Garden Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2022 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).
Causes of impairment
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit FL1496Z · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (0.64 km)
County Ranking
Ranked #17 of 124 lakes in Hillsborough County
Nearby Lakes in Hillsborough County
Frequently asked questions about Hillsborough-Garden Lake
Where is Hillsborough-Garden Lake?
- Hillsborough-Garden Lake is a lake in Hillsborough County, Florida. LakeQuality grades it B for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Hillsborough-Garden Lake?
- Hillsborough-Garden Lake in Hillsborough County, Florida has a water quality grade of B (Good). Water clarity: 4.3 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 21.5 µg/L.
Is Hillsborough-Garden Lake safe to swim in?
- Good for swimming, clear water with low algae levels. Hillsborough-Garden Lake has a water quality grade of B (Good). Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
Explore Hillsborough-Garden Lake across LakeQuality
More Florida Lake Rankings
Other Grade B Lakes in Florida
Eutrophic Lakes in Florida
Where this data comes from
69 measurements from 3 monitoring stations, 2020–2021. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- FLORIDA LAKEWATCH
21FLKWAT_WQX69 samples · 2020–2021
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