Lake Lelia
Lake Lelia in Highlands County, Florida is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 3.6 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 10 µg/L. Surface area: 176 acres.
- Clarity
- 3.6 ft
- Typical in August
- 80°F
- Area
- 176 acres
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
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Why Lake Lelia 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 Lelia, 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 Lelia is a 176-acre lake in Highlands County, Florida. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, FDEP, last sampled 2022-07-11. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
Watch Lake Lelia 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 Lelia
These readings exist but are not enough for an A–F grade — see why.
Murky, only visible to about 3.6 ft. Phosphorus level: 10 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 48.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 3.6 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 10 µg/L | Not graded |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 48 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Lake Lelia
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Lake Lelia in Highlands 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 Lelia
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Water Temperature
Lake Lelia typically sits around 80°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 82°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 83°F) and coldest in Dec (about 70°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 17 field readings (2014–2022) via the EPA Water Quality Portal.
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 176 acres |
No bathymetric survey has been published for Lake Lelia, so its depth is not documented here.
Fishing Lake Lelia
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 5 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | → Stable | +0.02 m/yr | 5 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +0.95 µg/L/yr | 5 |
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Lake Lelia is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Lake Glenda Dam, built primarily for recreation on the Lake Lelia; earth-type dam, 9 ft tall and 80 ft long.
- Surface area
- 176 ac
- Normal storage
- 352 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 975 ac-ft
- Hazard class
- Significant
- Owner
- SOUTH FLORIDA COMMUNITY
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID FL25500 · Operator website · Matched by proximity (0.78 km)
EPA Impairment Status
Lake Lelia is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2022 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).
Causes of impairment
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit FL1813L · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (1.17 km)
Graded lakes near Lake Lelia
Lake Lelia has no grade, but these lakes within a short drive do.
Nearby Lakes in Highlands County
Frequently asked questions about Lake Lelia
Where is Lake Lelia?
- Lake Lelia is a lake in Highlands 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 Lelia?
- Lake Lelia in Highlands County, Florida is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 3.6 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 10 µg/L. Surface area: 176 acres.
Is Lake Lelia safe to swim in?
- Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake. Lake Lelia is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Lake Lelia?
- Lake Lelia typically sits around 80°F at the surface in August, from 17 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2014–2022). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
Explore Lake Lelia across LakeQuality
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Where this data comes from
2 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2022. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Submitting organization not recorded for these samples2 samples · 2022
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