Lake Howell
Lake Howell in Seminole County, Florida has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 2.6 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 44 µg/L.
- Clarity
- 2.6 ft
- Typical in August
- 90°F
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
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Lake Howell is a productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Seminole County, Florida. Water quality is graded C based on 1 sampling years through 2025. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. Compared to the 121 other monitored lakes in Seminole County, Lake Howell ranks #107 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, FDEP, last sampled 2025-05-22. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyModerate
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.
Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality
Water Quality Grade: C (Fair)
Very murky, less than 2.6 ft of visibility. Phosphorus level: 44 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 61.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 2.6 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 44 µg/L | Fair |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 61 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Lake Howell
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Lake Howell in Seminole 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 Howell
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 Howell typically sits around 90°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 88°F. Usually warmest in Aug (about 90°F) and coldest in Jan (about 64°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 28 field readings (2021–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Lake Howell water temperature breakdown →
Fishing Lake Howell
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.048 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +5.31 µg/L/yr | 6 |
EPA Impairment Status
Lake Howell is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2022 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5A).
Causes of impairment
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit FL2997B · Official waterbody report
County Ranking
Ranked #107 of 122 lakes in Seminole County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Lake Howell holds Grade C. One nearby lake has a higher nutrient-and-algae grade — useful for a swim day, not a reason to skip lodging here.
See full comparison →Nearby Lakes in Seminole County
Frequently asked questions about Lake Howell
Where is Lake Howell?
- Lake Howell is a lake in Seminole County, Florida. LakeQuality grades it C for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Lake Howell?
- Lake Howell in Seminole County, Florida has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 2.6 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 44 µg/L.
Is Lake Howell safe to swim in?
- Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality. Lake Howell has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Lake Howell?
- Lake Howell typically sits around 90°F at the surface in August, from 28 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2021–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
Explore Lake Howell across LakeQuality
Planning a trip around Canaveral?
Lake Howell is about 35 miles from Canaveral 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 Canaveral →More Florida Lake Rankings
Other Grade C Lakes in Florida
Eutrophic Lakes in Florida
Where this data comes from
119 measurements from 5 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 samples60 samples · 2021–2025
- Submitting organization not recorded for these samples59 samples · 2020–2025
Monitoring station identifiers (5)
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