Lake Gibson
Lake Gibson in Polk County, Florida is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 1.3 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 105 µg/L. Surface area: 474 acres.
- Clarity
- 1.3 ft
- Area
- 474 acres
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
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Why Lake Gibson 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 Gibson, 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 Gibson is a 474-acre lake in Polk County, Florida. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, FDEP, last sampled 2024-07-15. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
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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 Gibson
These readings exist but are not enough for an A–F grade — see why.
Very murky, less than 1.3 ft of visibility. Phosphorus level: 105 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 72.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 1.3 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 105 µg/L | Not graded |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 72 | Hypereutrophic |
Very high nutrients, dense algae, poor clarity
Where to stay near Lake Gibson
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Lake Gibson 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 Gibson
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Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 474 acres |
No bathymetric survey has been published for Lake Gibson, so its depth is not documented here.
Fishing Lake Gibson
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.023 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +5.56 µg/L/yr | 6 |
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Lake Gibson is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Gibson Dam (completed 1969), built primarily for flood risk reduction on the Lake Gibson; earth-type dam, 7 ft tall and 24 ft long.
- Surface area
- 474 ac
- Normal storage
- 724 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 4,032 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 2,752 sq mi
- Hazard class
- High
- Owner
- SWFWMD
All listed purposes: Flood Risk Reduction;Recreation;Water Supply.
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID FL13402 · Operator website
EPA Impairment Status
Lake Gibson is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2022 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).
Causes of impairment
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit FL1497D · Official waterbody report
Graded lakes near Lake Gibson
Lake Gibson has no grade, but these lakes within a short drive do.
Nearby Lakes in Polk County
Frequently asked questions about Lake Gibson
Where is Lake Gibson?
- Lake Gibson 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 Gibson?
- Lake Gibson in Polk County, Florida is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 1.3 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 105 µg/L. Surface area: 474 acres.
Is Lake Gibson safe to swim in?
- Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake. Lake Gibson is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
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Where this data comes from
12 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2024. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Submitting organization not recorded for these samples12 samples · 2024
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