Lake Kennedy
Lake Kennedy in Lee County, Florida has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 3.1 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 50 µg/L.
- Clarity
- 3.1 ft
- Typical in August
- 88°F
- Max depth
- ~44 ft est.
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- Yes
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Lake Kennedy is a productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Lee County, Florida with an estimated average depth of about 44 feet. Water quality is graded C based on 1 sampling years through 2025. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available with 3 public boat landings. Compared to the 73 other monitored lakes in Lee County, Lake Kennedy ranks #6 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, FDEP, last sampled 2025-05-15. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyBacteria F
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 Kennedy routinely exceeded the EPA safe-swimming threshold (235 MPN/100mL) — on 30.8% of 26 samples across 3 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: C (Fair)
Very murky, less than 3.1 ft of visibility. Phosphorus level: 50 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 61.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 3.1 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 50 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 Kennedy
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Lake Kennedy in Lee 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 Kennedy
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Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Florida’s top lakes →
Water Temperature
Lake Kennedy typically sits around 88°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 87°F. Usually warmest in Aug (about 88°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 459 field readings (2010–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Lake Kennedy water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | ~44 ft est. |
| Average Depth | ~3 ft est. |
| Public Access | Yes |
Depth marked “est.” is a modeled maximum from GLOBathy (Khazaei et al. 2022, CC0), not a measured survey. Florida has not published bathymetry for Lake Kennedy.
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS). Mean depth here is modelled, not surveyed — HydroLAKES v1.0 estimates lake depth from surrounding terrain rather than from soundings. Treat it as an approximation, and prefer a state bathymetric survey where one exists.
Recreation & Access
- BMX Strausser Park Public Boat RampPublic
- City of Cape Coral - 1519 NW 8th Terrace Primitive)Public
- City of Cape Coral - 802 SW 7th Terrace (Primitive)Public
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Fishing Lake Kennedy
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 5 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.12 m/yr | 5 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -7 µg/L/yr | 5 |
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
1 EPA-permitted facility operate within about 5 miles of Lake Kennedy under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits.
- Cape Coral, City Of - Ro WtpCape Coral · 4 mi away · NPDES FL0040088
Facilities permitted to discharge under the Clean Water Act within ~5 miles; proximity does not by itself mean a facility affects this lake. Source: EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES), as of 2026-07.
County Ranking
Ranked #6 of 74 lakes in Lee County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Lake Kennedy 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 Lee County
Frequently asked questions about Lake Kennedy
Where is Lake Kennedy?
- Lake Kennedy is a lake in Lee 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 Kennedy?
- Lake Kennedy in Lee County, Florida has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 3.1 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 50 µg/L.
Is Lake Kennedy safe to swim in?
- Based on E. coli testing, Lake Kennedy routinely exceeded the EPA safe-swimming threshold (235 MPN/100mL) — on 30.8% of 26 samples across 3 seasons. That works out to a bacteria swim-safety grade of F — a historical summary of past testing, not a current reading. Lake Kennedy has a water quality grade of C (Fair). 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 Kennedy?
- Lake Kennedy typically sits around 88°F at the surface in August, from 459 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2010–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Lake Kennedy?
- No published bathymetric survey covers Lake Kennedy, so its depth has not been measured. The HydroLAKES global model estimates an average depth of about 44 feet, but that is a modelled estimate derived from surrounding terrain rather than a measurement on the water, so treat it as approximate.
Are there boat ramps on Lake Kennedy?
- Lake Kennedy has 3 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include BMX Strausser Park Public Boat Ramp, City of Cape Coral - 1519 NW 8th Terrace Primitive), City of Cape Coral - 802 SW 7th Terrace (Primitive). Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Lake Kennedy across LakeQuality
11.6 mi away · cable-pulled, no boat wake
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Florida's top lakes, each with its grade
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
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Where this data comes from
214 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2020–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Submitting organization not recorded for these samples214 samples · 2020–2025
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
Regulated discharger data from EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES)
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory