Lake Apthorpe
Lake Apthorpe in Highlands County, Florida has a water quality grade of B (Good). Water clarity: 4.3 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 11.5 µg/L.
- Clarity
- 4.3 ft
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Trend
- → Stable
- Public access
- Yes
Next lake in Highlands County
Swipe left or right on this bar to open the next or previous lake.
Lake Apthorpe is a mesotrophic lake in Highlands County, Florida. Water quality is graded B based on 1 sampling years through 2024. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 72 other monitored lakes in Highlands County, Lake Apthorpe ranks #27 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, FDEP, last sampled 2024-12-19. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
Watch Lake Apthorpe water quality
Subscribe for LakeQuality updates by email. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
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 4.3 ft. Phosphorus level: 11.5 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 48.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 4.3 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 11.5 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 48 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Lake Apthorpe
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Lake Apthorpe in Highlands 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 Lake Apthorpe
Availability and prices from Stay22 partners (Booking.com, Vrbo, Expedia). We may earn a commission from bookings, at no extra cost to you.
Planning a trip? Cabins and lodging at Lake Apthorpe → · more Florida lake trips
Recreation & Access
- Lake Apthorpe Public Boat RampPublic
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Fishing Lake Apthorpe
Water Quality Trend: → Stable
Based on 5 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | → Stable | +0.1 m/yr | 5 |
| Phosphorus | → Stable | -0.2 µg/L/yr | 5 |
EPA Impairment Status
Lake Apthorpe 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 FL1932G · Official waterbody report
County Ranking
Ranked #27 of 73 lakes in Highlands County
Nearby Lakes in Highlands County
Frequently asked questions about Lake Apthorpe
Where is Lake Apthorpe?
- Lake Apthorpe is a lake in Highlands County, Florida. LakeQuality grades it B for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Lake Apthorpe?
- Lake Apthorpe in Highlands County, Florida has a water quality grade of B (Good). Water clarity: 4.3 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 11.5 µg/L.
Is Lake Apthorpe safe to swim in?
- Good for swimming, clear water with low algae levels. Lake Apthorpe has a water quality grade of B (Good). Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
Are there boat ramps on Lake Apthorpe?
- Lake Apthorpe has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Lake Apthorpe Public Boat Ramp. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Lake Apthorpe across LakeQuality
More Florida Lake Rankings
Other Grade B Lakes in Florida
Mesotrophic Lakes in Florida
Where this data comes from
56 measurements from 3 monitoring stations, 2020–2024. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Submitting organization not recorded for these samples38 samples · 2020–2024
- Submitting organization not recorded for these samples18 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
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory