James Lake
James Lake in Hillsborough County, Florida is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 4.5 ft visibility.
- Clarity
- 4.5 ft
- Trend
- → Stable
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Why James Lake has no grade
We grade a lake only when the monitoring record supports a letter: at least three phosphorus or chlorophyll-a samples in the last ten years, scored against EPA National Lakes Assessment thresholds for this lake’s ecoregion. For James Lake, the only measurement available is water clarity, which is not a water-quality indicator on its own — EPA's National Lakes Assessment does not grade clarity. Sampling here has recorded water clarity, but not phosphorus and algae (chlorophyll-a).
Not Rated is not an F. It is EPA Integrated Reporting Category 3 — insufficient information. The water here may be excellent or poor; nobody has measured enough of it to say. Everything below that has been measured is still reported on this page.
Sampling is run by FDEP and volunteer programs, and published through the EPA Water Quality Portal. Read the full grading methodology.
James Lake is a lake in Hillsborough County, Florida. Water clarity is declining over recent sampling years.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, FDEP, last sampled 2023-07-26. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
Watch James Lake water quality
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Swimming Safety
Not ratedLimited data
Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake
Water quality measurements for James Lake
These readings exist but are not enough for an A–F grade — see why.
Murky, only visible to about 4.5 ft. Trophic State Index: 55.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 4.5 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | No recent samples | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 55 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near James Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near James 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 James Lake
Availability and prices from Stay22 partners (Booking.com, Vrbo, Expedia). We may earn a commission from bookings, at no extra cost to you.
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Fishing James Lake
Water Quality Trend: → Stable
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.421 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -1.23 µg/L/yr | 6 |
EPA Impairment Status
James 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 FL1473Z · Official waterbody report
Graded lakes near James Lake
James Lake has no grade, but these lakes within a short drive do.
Nearby Lakes in Hillsborough County
Frequently asked questions about James Lake
Where is James Lake?
- James Lake is a lake in Hillsborough County, Florida. LakeQuality has not rated this lake (UNRATED) — the only measurement available is water clarity, which is not a water-quality indicator on its own — EPA's National Lakes Assessment does not grade clarity.
What is the water quality grade for James Lake?
- James Lake in Hillsborough County, Florida is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 4.5 ft visibility.
Is James Lake safe to swim in?
- Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake. James Lake is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
Explore James Lake across LakeQuality
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Where this data comes from
9 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2020–2023. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- North American Lake Management Society
NALMS9 samples · 2020–2023
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