Lake Seminole
Jackson County, Florida37,500 acresView mapDirections
Florida DEP publishes the water-quality measurements for Lake Seminole. Here is what has been measured.
- Eutrophic
- Impaired · Impaired biota (cause unknown)
- Public access
Lake Seminole in Jackson County, Florida has water-quality measurements published by Florida DEP, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 4.3 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 30 µg/L. Surface area: 37500 acres.
Lake Seminole is a 37,500-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Jackson County, Florida. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available with 3 public boat landings. Compared to the 5 other monitored lakes in Jackson County, Lake Seminole ranks #1 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, FDEP, last sampled 2025-10-21. Methodology: how these readings are compared.
What Lake Seminole is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Boat launch3 documented ramps
- Camping1 public campground nearby
- Big water37,500 acres
Swimming conditions
Readings onlyBacteria tested: low
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 Seminole never exceeded the EPA safe-swimming threshold (235 MPN/100mL) — on 0% of 45 samples across 8 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 Seminole 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 Seminole
These are the measurements Florida DEP publishes for Lake Seminole, shown as reported. The condition class beside each reading is the EPA National Lakes Assessment class for this lake’s ecoregion.
Murky, only visible to about 4.3 ft. Phosphorus 30 µg/L. TSI 55.
| Measure | Reading | Where it sits |
|---|---|---|
| Water clarity (Secchi depth) | 4.3ft | Measured, not scored How deep a black-and-white disk stays visible from the surface. Higher is clearer. |
| Total phosphorus | 30µg/L | Good 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. | 55 | Eutrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Ask about Lake Seminole
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
→ Lake Seminole water level: the live USGS gauge reading
Water Temperature
Lake Seminole typically sits around 75°F at the surface in October. Summer average is about 87°F. Usually warmest in Aug (about 88°F) and coldest in Apr (about 71°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Column height runs from this lake’s coldest month (71°F) to its warmest (88°F).
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 177 field readings (2010–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Lake Seminole water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
Surface area
37,500 acres
Public access
Yes
Listed by Florida DEP
No bathymetric survey has been published for Lake Seminole, so its depth is not documented here.
Recreation & Access
- East Bank CampgroundPublic
- Clyde Hopkins Park Public Boat RampPublic
- Gulf Power Boat RampPublic
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Public campgrounds near Lake Seminole
- Eastbank1.5 kmReserve
Nearest public campgrounds in the USGS National Map inventory, within about 3 miles. An empty list means USGS records no campground that close, which is not the same as camping being unavailable. Where the source gives an official reservation link, it is used; the cabin and hotel search does not cover campsites. More camping lakes
Stays via Stay22
Stays near Lake Seminole
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Lake Seminole in Jackson 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 Seminole
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 trip? Cabins and lodging at Lake Seminole → · more Florida lake trips
Follow Lake Seminole’s readings
Email me when new measurements post for this lake. Updates stay free.
Or email
Fishing Lake Seminole
Water Quality Trend: Worsening
Based on 6 years of monitoring (2020–2025).
Water clarity
Stable6 years
Phosphorus
Worsening+1.14 µg/L/yr6 years
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Lake Seminole is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Jim Woodruff Lock and Dam (completed 1954), built primarily for navigation on the Apalachicola; gravity-type dam, 92 ft tall and 7,000 ft long.
- Surface area
- 37,500 ac
- Normal storage
- 406,200 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 406,200 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 17,200 sq mi
- Hazard class
- High
- Owner
- USACE - Mobile District
All listed purposes: Navigation;Recreation;Hydroelectric;Flood Risk Reduction.
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID FL00435 · Operator website
EPA Impairment Status
Lake Seminole is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2022 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).
Causes of impairment
Designated uses not supporting: Aquatic life.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit FL60 · Official waterbody report
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
3 EPA-permitted facilities operate within about 5 miles of Lake Seminole under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits, including 2 classified by the EPA as major dischargers. 3 facilities have a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Florida State Hospital WwtpChattahoochee · 2 mi away · NPDES FL0031402MajorRecent violation
- Scholz Electric Generating PlantSneads · 3.2 mi away · NPDES FL0002283MajorRecent violation
- Chattahoochee, City Of - WwtpChattahoochee · 2 mi away · NPDES FL0027669Recent violation
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 Jackson County
Frequently asked questions about Lake Seminole
Where is Lake Seminole?
- Lake Seminole is a lake in Jackson 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 Seminole?
- Lake Seminole in Jackson County, Florida has water-quality measurements published by Florida DEP, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 4.3 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 30 µg/L. Surface area: 37500 acres.
Is Lake Seminole safe to swim in?
- Based on E. coli testing, Lake Seminole never exceeded the EPA safe-swimming threshold (235 MPN/100mL) — on 0% of 45 samples across 8 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 Seminole 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 Seminole?
- Lake Seminole typically sits around 75°F at the surface in October, from 177 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2010–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
Are there boat ramps on Lake Seminole?
- Lake Seminole has 3 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include East Bank Campground, Clyde Hopkins Park Public Boat Ramp, Gulf Power Boat Ramp. Public access is listed as yes.
Can I fish at Lake Seminole?
- Lake Seminole has 3 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. 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.
Are there campgrounds on Lake Seminole?
- Lake Seminole has 1 public campground from USGS The National Map within 5 km, including Eastbank. This is a location join, not a booking. Cabins and hotels are listed separately; campsite reservations use the official link when the source provides one.
Explore Lake Seminole across LakeQuality
More lakes in Florida
Other Lakes in Florida
Eutrophic Lakes in Florida
Where this data comes from
71 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2020–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Georgia DNR Environmental Protection Division
21GAEPD_WQX71 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
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
Regulated discharger data from EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES)
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory
Public campgrounds from USGS The National Map Structures, within about 3 miles