Lake Lotela
Lake Lotela in Highlands County, Florida has a water quality grade of B (Good). Water clarity: 7.2 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 11 µg/L.
- Clarity
- 7.2 ft
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- Yes
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Lake Lotela is a mesotrophic lake in Highlands County, Florida. Water quality is graded B based on 1 sampling years through 2024. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 72 other monitored lakes in Highlands County, Lake Lotela ranks #48 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, FDEP, last sampled 2024-08-19. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
Watch Lake Lotela water quality
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyLimited data
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.
Good for swimming, clear water with low algae levels
Water Quality Grade: B (Good)
Moderate clarity, visible to about 7.2 ft. Phosphorus level: 11 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 44.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 7.2 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 11 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 44 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Lake Lotela
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Lake Lotela 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 Lotela
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Recreation & Access
- Lake Lotela South Public Boat RampPublic
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Fishing Lake Lotela
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 5 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.295 m/yr | 5 |
| Phosphorus | → Stable | +0.05 µg/L/yr | 5 |
EPA Impairment Status
Lake Lotela 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 FL1813B · Official waterbody report
County Ranking
Ranked #48 of 73 lakes in Highlands County
Nearby Lakes in Highlands County
Frequently asked questions about Lake Lotela
Where is Lake Lotela?
- Lake Lotela is a lake in Highlands 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 Lotela?
- Lake Lotela in Highlands County, Florida has a water quality grade of B (Good). Water clarity: 7.2 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 11 µg/L.
Is Lake Lotela safe to swim in?
- Good for swimming, clear water with low algae levels. Lake Lotela has a water quality grade of B (Good). Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
Are there boat ramps on Lake Lotela?
- Lake Lotela has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Lake Lotela South Public Boat Ramp. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Lake Lotela across LakeQuality
More Florida Lake Rankings
Other Grade B Lakes in Florida
Mesotrophic Lakes in Florida
Where this data comes from
37 measurements from 3 monitoring stations, 2020–2024. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Submitting organization not recorded for these samples30 samples · 2020–2024
- Submitting organization not recorded for these samples7 samples · 2021–2024
Monitoring station identifiers (3)
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
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory