Lake Hiawatha
Lake Hiawatha in Leon County, Florida has a water quality grade of B (Good). Water clarity: 3.6 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 16.2 µg/L.
- Clarity
- 3.6 ft
- Typical in August
- 86°F
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
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Lake Hiawatha is a productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Leon County, Florida. Water quality is graded B based on 1 sampling years through 2025. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. Compared to the 58 other monitored lakes in Leon County, Lake Hiawatha ranks #14 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, FDEP, last sampled 2025-04-30. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
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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 Hiawatha never exceeded the EPA safe-swimming threshold (235 MPN/100mL) — on 0% of 55 samples across 8 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: B (Good)
Murky, only visible to about 3.6 ft. Phosphorus level: 16.2 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 51.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 3.6 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 16.2 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 51 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Lake Hiawatha
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Lake Hiawatha in Leon 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 Hiawatha
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Water Temperature
Lake Hiawatha typically sits around 86°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 85°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 87°F) and coldest in Jan (about 54°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 94 field readings (2010–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Lake Hiawatha water temperature breakdown →
Fishing Lake Hiawatha
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 5 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.155 m/yr | 5 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -1.25 µg/L/yr | 5 |
EPA Impairment Status
Lake Hiawatha is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2022 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 4C).
Causes of impairment
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit FL878C · Official waterbody report
County Ranking
Ranked #14 of 59 lakes in Leon County
Nearby Lakes in Leon County
Frequently asked questions about Lake Hiawatha
Where is Lake Hiawatha?
- Lake Hiawatha is a lake in Leon County, Florida. LakeQuality grades it B for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Lake Hiawatha?
- Lake Hiawatha in Leon County, Florida has a water quality grade of B (Good). Water clarity: 3.6 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 16.2 µg/L.
Is Lake Hiawatha safe to swim in?
- Based on E. coli testing, Lake Hiawatha never exceeded the EPA safe-swimming threshold (235 MPN/100mL) — on 0% of 55 samples across 8 seasons. That works out to a bacteria swim-safety grade of A — a historical summary of past testing, not a current reading. Lake Hiawatha has a water quality grade of B (Good). 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 Hiawatha?
- Lake Hiawatha typically sits around 86°F at the surface in August, from 94 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2010–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
Explore Lake Hiawatha across LakeQuality
More Florida Lake Rankings
Other Grade B Lakes in Florida
Eutrophic Lakes in Florida
Where this data comes from
53 measurements from 2 monitoring stations, 2020–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Submitting organization not recorded for these samples35 samples · 2020–2024
- Submitting organization not recorded for these samples18 samples · 2020–2025
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