Lake Manitoba
Lee County, FloridaView mapDirections
Florida DEP publishes the water-quality measurements for Lake Manitoba. Here is what has been measured.
- Eutrophic
- Public access
Lake Manitoba in Lee County, Florida has water-quality measurements published by Florida DEP, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 2.3 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 70 µg/L.
Lake Manitoba is a productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Lee County, Florida. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available. Compared to the 73 other monitored lakes in Lee County, Lake Manitoba ranks #13 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, FDEP, last sampled 2025-05-08. Methodology: how these readings are compared.
Swimming conditions
Readings onlyBacteria tested: exceedances
Based on clarity and algae readings from past sampling — there is no 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 Manitoba frequently exceeded the EPA safe-swimming threshold (235 MPN/100mL) — on 12.9% of 31 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.
Whether Lake Manitoba is safe to swim in today is a call for the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and the county health department, who post current advisories. LakeQuality does not issue swimming clearances.
Water quality measurements for Lake Manitoba
These are the measurements Florida DEP publishes for Lake Manitoba, shown as reported. The condition class beside each reading is the EPA National Lakes Assessment class for this lake’s ecoregion.
Very murky, less than 2.3 ft of visibility. Phosphorus 70 µg/L. TSI 65.
| Measure | Reading | Where it sits |
|---|---|---|
| Water clarity (Secchi depth) | 2.3ft | Measured, not scored How deep a black-and-white disk stays visible from the surface. Higher is clearer. |
| Total phosphorus | 70µg/L | Poor GoodFairPoor |
| Chlorophyll-a (algae) | No reading The green pigment in algae — a direct measure of how much algae is in the water. | |
| Trophic state (TSI)Carlson's 0–100 index of how much algae a lake can support, from clarity, phosphorus and chlorophyll-a. | 65 | Eutrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Ask about Lake Manitoba
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
Water Temperature
Lake Manitoba typically sits around 82°F at the surface in October. Summer average is about 86°F. Usually warmest in Aug (about 87°F) and coldest in Jan (about 67°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Column height runs from this lake’s coldest month (67°F) to its warmest (87°F).
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 488 field readings (2010–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Lake Manitoba water temperature breakdown →
Stays via Stay22
Stays near Lake Manitoba
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Lake Manitoba 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. The water-quality readings cover nutrients and algae, not lodging. Cabins and rentals around Lake Manitoba are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Lake Manitoba
Prices for Oct 16–18, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.
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 →
Follow Lake Manitoba’s readings
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Fishing Lake Manitoba
Water Quality Trend: Improving
Based on 5 years of monitoring (2020–2024).
Water clarity
Improving5 years
Phosphorus
Improving-4 µg/L/yr5 years
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
5 EPA-permitted facilities operate within about 5 miles of Lake Manitoba under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits, including 5 classified by the EPA as major dischargers. 1 facility has a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Everest Parkway WrfCape Coral · 2.9 mi away · NPDES FL0030007MajorRecent violation
- Cape Coral, City OfCape Coral · 1.4 mi away · NPDES FLS266949Major
- Waterway Estates AwwtpNorth Fort Myers · 1.7 mi away · NPDES FL0030325Major
- Lee Co & Co App - MS4Fort Myers · 3.6 mi away · NPDES FLS000035Major
- Fort Myers, City OfFort Myers · 3.6 mi away · NPDES FLS266884Major
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.
Nearby Lakes in Lee County
Frequently asked questions about Lake Manitoba
Where is Lake Manitoba?
- Lake Manitoba is a lake in Lee County, Florida. Its water-quality measurements are published by Florida DEP and shown on this page as reported.
What is the water quality of Lake Manitoba?
- Lake Manitoba in Lee County, Florida has water-quality measurements published by Florida DEP, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 2.3 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 70 µg/L.
Is Lake Manitoba safe to swim in?
- Based on E. coli testing, Lake Manitoba frequently exceeded the EPA safe-swimming threshold (235 MPN/100mL) — on 12.9% of 31 samples across 3 seasons. That is a historical summary of past bacteria testing, not a current reading and not a swimming clearance. Bacteria levels can spike quickly after heavy rain, so whether Lake Manitoba is safe to swim in today is a call for Florida's water agency and the county health department; check their current beach advisories before you swim.
What is the water temperature of Lake Manitoba?
- Lake Manitoba typically sits around 82°F at the surface in October, from 488 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2010–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
Can I fish at Lake Manitoba?
- Public access to Lake Manitoba is listed as yes on the lake record. Seasons, size and bag limits, and whether you need a license are set by Florida's fish and wildlife agency, so check its current regulations before you go.
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Where this data comes from
240 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 samples240 samples · 2020–2025
Monitoring station identifiers (1)
EPA condition classes from the National Lakes Assessment (EPA 841-R-24-006, Table 6-3), applied by ecoregion. See where the data comes from and data sources.
Other records on this page
Regulated discharger data from EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES)