Lake Garfield
Lake Garfield in Polk County, Florida is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 1.1 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 130 µg/L.
- Clarity
- 1.1 ft
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- Yes
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Why Lake Garfield 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 Garfield, 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 Garfield is a lake in Polk County, Florida. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, FDEP, last sampled 2023-08-16. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
Watch Lake Garfield 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 Lake Garfield
These readings exist but are not enough for an A–F grade — see why.
Very murky, less than 1.1 ft of visibility. Phosphorus level: 130 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 75.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 1.1 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 130 µg/L | Not graded |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 75 | Hypereutrophic |
Very high nutrients, dense algae, poor clarity
Where to stay near Lake Garfield
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Lake Garfield 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 Garfield
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Recreation & Access
- Lake Garfield Public Boat RampPublic
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Fishing Lake Garfield
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | → Stable | +0.002 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -14.4 µg/L/yr | 6 |
EPA Impairment Status
Lake Garfield 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 FL1622 · Official waterbody report
Graded lakes near Lake Garfield
Lake Garfield has no grade, but these lakes within a short drive do.
Nearby Lakes in Polk County
Frequently asked questions about Lake Garfield
Where is Lake Garfield?
- Lake Garfield is a lake in Polk 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 Garfield?
- Lake Garfield in Polk County, Florida is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 1.1 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 130 µg/L.
Is Lake Garfield safe to swim in?
- Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake. Lake Garfield is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
Are there boat ramps on Lake Garfield?
- Lake Garfield has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Lake Garfield Public Boat Ramp. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Lake Garfield across LakeQuality
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Where this data comes from
4 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2020–2023. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Submitting organization not recorded for these samples4 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
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory