Lake Emerald
Lake Emerald in Orange County, Florida has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 2.6 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 62.5 µg/L.
- Clarity
- 2.6 ft
- Typical in August
- 88°F
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Trend
- → Stable
Grade D measures nutrients and algae, not whether this is a good place for a cabin trip. Cabins and rentals near Lake Emerald →
Next lake in Orange County
Swipe left or right on this bar to open the next or previous lake.
Lake Emerald is a productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Orange County, Florida. Water quality is graded D based on 1 sampling years through 2022. Water clarity is declining over recent sampling years. Compared to the 319 other monitored lakes in Orange County, Lake Emerald ranks #311 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, FDEP, last sampled 2022-11-17. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
Watch Lake Emerald water quality
Subscribe for LakeQuality updates by email. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
Swimming Safety
Grade onlyBacteria A
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.
Based on E. coli testing, Lake Emerald never exceeded the EPA safe-swimming threshold (235 MPN/100mL) — on 0% of 14 samples across 4 seasons.
This is a historical summary of past testing, not a current condition — bacteria levels change quickly, especially after rain. Always check Florida’s current beach and health-department advisories before swimming.
Water Quality Grade: D (Nutrient-rich)
Very murky, less than 2.6 ft of visibility. Phosphorus level: 62.5 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 63.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 2.6 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 62.5 µg/L | Poor |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 63 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Lake Emerald
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Lake Emerald in Orange 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. The water-quality grade measures nutrients and algae, not lodging — cabins and rentals around Lake Emerald are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Lake Emerald
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 Emerald typically sits around 88°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 88°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 88°F) and coldest in Feb (about 65°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 45 field readings (2010–2021) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Lake Emerald water temperature breakdown →
Fishing Lake Emerald
Water Quality Trend: → Stable
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.047 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -1.51 µg/L/yr | 6 |
EPA Impairment Status
Lake Emerald 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 FL3168Y8 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (0.27 km)
County Ranking
Ranked #311 of 320 lakes in Orange County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Lake Emerald holds Grade D. 2 nearby lakes hold higher nutrient-and-algae grades — useful for a swim day, not a reason to skip lodging here.
Nearby Lakes in Orange County
Frequently asked questions about Lake Emerald
Where is Lake Emerald?
- Lake Emerald is a lake in Orange County, Florida. LakeQuality grades it D for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Lake Emerald?
- Lake Emerald in Orange County, Florida has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 2.6 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 62.5 µg/L.
Is Lake Emerald safe to swim in?
- Based on E. coli testing, Lake Emerald never exceeded the EPA safe-swimming threshold (235 MPN/100mL) — on 0% of 14 samples across 4 seasons. That works out to a bacteria swim-safety grade of A — a historical summary of past testing, not a current reading. Lake Emerald has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Bacteria levels can spike quickly after heavy rain, so always check Florida's current beach and health-department advisories before you swim.
What is the water temperature of Lake Emerald?
- Lake Emerald typically sits around 88°F at the surface in August, from 45 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2010–2021). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
Explore Lake Emerald across LakeQuality
More Florida Lake Rankings
Other Grade D Lakes in Florida
Eutrophic Lakes in Florida
Where this data comes from
19 measurements from 2 monitoring stations, 2021–2022. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Submitting organization not recorded for these samples12 samples · 2021
- Submitting organization not recorded for these samples7 samples · 2021–2022
Monitoring station identifiers (2)
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