Lake May
Lake May in Lake County, Florida has a water quality grade of B (Good). Water clarity: 3.9 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 19.8 µg/L.
- Clarity
- 3.9 ft
- Typical in August
- 83°F
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
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Lake May is a productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Lake County, Florida. Water quality is graded B based on 1 sampling years through 2023. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. Compared to the 127 other monitored lakes in Lake County, Lake May ranks #78 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, FDEP, last sampled 2023-07-19. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyBacteria C
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 May occasionally exceeded the EPA safe-swimming threshold (235 MPN/100mL) — on 5.9% of 17 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: B (Good)
Murky, only visible to about 3.9 ft. Phosphorus level: 19.8 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 52.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 3.9 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 19.8 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 52 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Lake May
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Lake May in Lake 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 May
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Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Florida’s top lakes →
Water Temperature
Lake May typically sits around 83°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 87°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 90°F) and coldest in Jan (about 59°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 62 field readings (2010–2023) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Lake May water temperature breakdown →
Fishing Lake May
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 4 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -1.78 m/yr | 4 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +4.91 µg/L/yr | 4 |
EPA Impairment Status
Lake May is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2022 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 4A).
Causes of impairment
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit FL2816A · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (1.43 km)
County Ranking
Ranked #78 of 128 lakes in Lake County
Nearby Lakes in Lake County
Frequently asked questions about Lake May
Where is Lake May?
- Lake May is a lake in Lake 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 May?
- Lake May in Lake County, Florida has a water quality grade of B (Good). Water clarity: 3.9 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 19.8 µg/L.
Is Lake May safe to swim in?
- Based on E. coli testing, Lake May occasionally exceeded the EPA safe-swimming threshold (235 MPN/100mL) — on 5.9% of 17 samples across 3 seasons. That works out to a bacteria swim-safety grade of C — a historical summary of past testing, not a current reading. Lake May has a water quality grade of B (Good). 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 May?
- Lake May typically sits around 83°F at the surface in August, from 62 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2010–2023). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
Explore Lake May across LakeQuality
More Florida Lake Rankings
Other Grade B Lakes in Florida
Eutrophic Lakes in Florida
Where this data comes from
34 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2021–2023. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Submitting organization not recorded for these samples34 samples · 2021–2023
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