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LakeQuality

Lake Earl

NR
Not yet rated
5.2 ft clear · Mesotrophic
Limited DataMesotrophic

Lake Earl in Okaloosa County, Florida is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 5.2 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 17 µg/L.

Clarity
5.2 ft
Typical in August
90°F
Public access
Yes

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Why Lake Earl 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 Lake Earl, no nutrient or algae measurement meets the evidence bar (at least 3 samples within 10 years). Sampling here has recorded water clarity and phosphorus, but not 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.

Lake Earl is a lake in Okaloosa County, Florida. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available with 7 public boat landings.

Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, FDEP, last sampled 2025-07-21. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.

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Swimming Safety

Not rated

Limited data

Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake

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Water quality measurements for Lake Earl

These readings exist but are not enough for an A–F grade — see why.

Murky, only visible to about 5.2 ft. Phosphorus level: 17 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 49.

MetricValueGrade
Water Clarity (Secchi Depth)5.2 ftNot graded
Phosphorus17 µg/LNot graded
Chlorophyll-a (Algae)No recent samples
Trophic State Index (TSI)49Mesotrophic

Moderate nutrients, good water quality

Where to stay near Lake Earl

Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Lake Earl in Okaloosa 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 Earl

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 whole trip? See where to stay at Florida’s top lakes →

Water Temperature

Lake Earl typically sits around 90°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 90°F. Usually warmest in Aug (about 90°F) and coldest in Mar (about 69°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.

Jan
Feb
Mar
69°
Apr
May
78°
Jun
Jul
89°
Aug
90°
Sep
85°
Oct
77°
Nov
Dec

Typical surface water temperature by month, from 17 field readings (20162025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Lake Earl water temperature breakdown →

Recreation & Access

7
Boat Landings
Yes
Public Access
  • Fort Walton Beach LandingPublic
  • Ross Marler ParkPublic
  • Liza Jackson ParkPublic
  • Sea Way Boat Ramp At Cinco BayouPublic
  • Gulf Islands National SeashorePublic
  • Walkedge Boat RampPublic

Showing 6 of 7 documented landings from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory.

Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps

Fishing Lake Earl

EPA Impairment Status

Lake Earl is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2022 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 4A).

Causes of impairment

Mercury

A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.

Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit FL874A · Official waterbody report

Graded lakes near Lake Earl

Lake Earl has no grade, but these lakes within a short drive do.

Nearby Lakes in Okaloosa County

Frequently asked questions about Lake Earl

Where is Lake Earl?

Lake Earl is a lake in Okaloosa County, Florida. LakeQuality has not rated this lake (UNRATED) — no nutrient or algae measurement meets the evidence bar (at least 3 samples within 10 years).

What is the water quality grade for Lake Earl?

Lake Earl in Okaloosa County, Florida is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 5.2 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 17 µg/L.

Is Lake Earl safe to swim in?

Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake. Lake Earl is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.

What is the water temperature of Lake Earl?

Lake Earl typically sits around 90°F at the surface in August, from 17 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2016–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.

Are there boat ramps on Lake Earl?

Lake Earl has 7 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Fort Walton Beach Landing, Ross Marler Park, Liza Jackson Park, Sea Way Boat Ramp At Cinco Bayou, among others. Public access is listed as yes.

Planning a trip around Gulf Islands?

Lake Earl is about 39 miles from Gulf Islands National Seashore. Crowds there swing hard by season, so the month you pick changes both how busy the park is and what lodging costs.

Best time to visit Gulf Islands

Where this data comes from

6 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.

Collected and reported by

  • FL Dept. of Environmental Protection, Northwest District21FLPNS_WQX6 samples · 2025
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

Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory