Lake Buffum
Lake Buffum in Polk County, Florida has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 1.8 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 48 µg/L.
- Clarity
- 1.8 ft
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
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Lake Buffum is a productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Polk County, Florida. Water quality is graded C based on 1 sampling years through 2025. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. Compared to the 176 other monitored lakes in Polk County, Lake Buffum ranks #118 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, FDEP, last sampled 2025-02-12. 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.
Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality
Water Quality Grade: C (Fair)
Very murky, less than 1.8 ft of visibility. Phosphorus level: 48 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 64.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 1.8 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 48 µg/L | Fair |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 64 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Lake Buffum
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Lake Buffum in Polk 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 Buffum
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Fishing Lake Buffum
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | → Stable | -0.014 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -4.27 µg/L/yr | 6 |
EPA Impairment Status
Lake Buffum is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2022 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).
Causes of impairment
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit FL1677C · Official waterbody report
County Ranking
Ranked #118 of 177 lakes in Polk County
Nearby Lakes in Polk County
Frequently asked questions about Lake Buffum
Where is Lake Buffum?
- Lake Buffum is a lake in Polk County, Florida. LakeQuality grades it C for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Lake Buffum?
- Lake Buffum in Polk County, Florida has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 1.8 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 48 µg/L.
Is Lake Buffum safe to swim in?
- Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality. Lake Buffum has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
Explore Lake Buffum across LakeQuality
More Florida Lake Rankings
Other Grade C Lakes in Florida
Eutrophic Lakes in Florida
Where this data comes from
20 measurements from 4 monitoring stations, 2022–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Submitting organization not recorded for these samples14 samples · 2023–2025
- Submitting organization not recorded for these samples6 samples · 2022
Monitoring station identifiers (4)
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