Hillsborough-Starvation Lake
Hillsborough-Starvation Lake in Hillsborough County, Florida has a water quality grade of B (Good). Water clarity: 4.8 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 14.5 µg/L.
- Clarity
- 4.8 ft
- Typical in August
- 87°F
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Trend
- → Stable
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Hillsborough-Starvation Lake is a mesotrophic lake in Hillsborough County, Florida. Water quality is graded B based on 1 sampling years through 2021. Compared to the 123 other monitored lakes in Hillsborough County, Hillsborough-Starvation Lake ranks #14 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, FDEP, last sampled 2021-12-16. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyLow algae
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 4.8 ft. Phosphorus level: 14.5 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 49.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 4.8 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 14.5 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 49 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Hillsborough-Starvation Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Hillsborough-Starvation 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-Starvation Lake
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Water Temperature
Hillsborough-Starvation Lake typically sits around 87°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 87°F. Usually warmest in Aug (about 87°F) and coldest in Oct (about 74°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 11 field readings (2011–2011) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Hillsborough-Starvation Lake water temperature breakdown →
Fishing Hillsborough-Starvation Lake
Water Quality Trend: → Stable
Based on 5 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | → Stable | -0.05 m/yr | 5 |
| Phosphorus | → Stable | +0.25 µg/L/yr | 5 |
EPA Impairment Status
Hillsborough-Starvation 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 FL1478 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (1.62 km)
County Ranking
Ranked #14 of 124 lakes in Hillsborough County
Nearby Lakes in Hillsborough County
Frequently asked questions about Hillsborough-Starvation Lake
Where is Hillsborough-Starvation Lake?
- Hillsborough-Starvation 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-Starvation Lake?
- Hillsborough-Starvation Lake in Hillsborough County, Florida has a water quality grade of B (Good). Water clarity: 4.8 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 14.5 µg/L.
Is Hillsborough-Starvation Lake safe to swim in?
- Good for swimming, clear water with low algae levels. Hillsborough-Starvation Lake has a water quality grade of B (Good). Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Hillsborough-Starvation Lake?
- Hillsborough-Starvation Lake typically sits around 87°F at the surface in August, from 11 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2011–2011). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
Explore Hillsborough-Starvation Lake across LakeQuality
More Florida Lake Rankings
Other Grade B Lakes in Florida
Mesotrophic Lakes in Florida
Where this data comes from
120 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_WQX120 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