Lake of the Woods
Lake of the Woods in Orange County, Florida has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 1.3 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 110 µg/L.
- Clarity
- 1.3 ft
- Typical in August
- 85°F
- Type
- Hypereutrophic
- Trend
- → Stable
Grade D measures nutrients and algae, not whether this is a good place for a cabin trip. Cabins and rentals near Lake of the Woods →
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Lake of the Woods is a highly nutrient-loaded hypereutrophic lake in Orange County, Florida. Water quality is graded D based on 1 sampling years through 2024. Water clarity is declining over recent sampling years. Compared to the 319 other monitored lakes in Orange County, Lake of the Woods ranks #291 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, FDEP, last sampled 2024-10-28. 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 of the Woods occasionally exceeded the EPA safe-swimming threshold (235 MPN/100mL) — on 8.7% of 23 samples across 6 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: D (Nutrient-rich)
Very murky, less than 1.3 ft of visibility. Phosphorus level: 110 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 72.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 1.3 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 110 µg/L | Poor |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 72 | Hypereutrophic |
Very high nutrients, dense algae, poor clarity
Where to stay near Lake of the Woods
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Lake of the Woods in Orange 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 grade measures nutrients and algae, not lodging — cabins and rentals around Lake of the Woods are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Lake of the Woods
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Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Florida’s top lakes →
Water Temperature
Lake of the Woods typically sits around 85°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 83°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 85°F) and coldest in Jan (about 62°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 60 field readings (2010–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Lake of the Woods water temperature breakdown →
Fishing Lake of the Woods
Water Quality Trend: → Stable
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.122 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -2.89 µg/L/yr | 6 |
EPA Impairment Status
Lake of the Woods is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2022 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).
Causes of impairment
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit FL3168W4 · Official waterbody report
County Ranking
Ranked #291 of 320 lakes in Orange County
Nearby Lakes in Orange County
Frequently asked questions about Lake of the Woods
Where is Lake of the Woods?
- Lake of the Woods is a lake in Orange County, Florida. LakeQuality grades it D for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Lake of the Woods?
- Lake of the Woods in Orange County, Florida has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 1.3 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 110 µg/L.
Is Lake of the Woods safe to swim in?
- Based on E. coli testing, Lake of the Woods occasionally exceeded the EPA safe-swimming threshold (235 MPN/100mL) — on 8.7% of 23 samples across 6 seasons. That works out to a bacteria swim-safety grade of C — a historical summary of past testing, not a current reading. Lake of the Woods has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). 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 of the Woods?
- Lake of the Woods typically sits around 85°F at the surface in August, from 60 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2010–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
Explore Lake of the Woods across LakeQuality
More Florida Lake Rankings
Other Grade D Lakes in Florida
Hypereutrophic Lakes in Florida
Where this data comes from
35 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2020–2024. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Submitting organization not recorded for these samples35 samples · 2020–2024
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