Lake Tarpon
Lake Tarpon in Pinellas County, Florida has a water quality grade of B (Good). Water clarity: 2.3 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 30 µg/L.
- Clarity
- 2.3 ft
- Typical in August
- 87°F
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Trend
- → Stable
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Lake Tarpon is a productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Pinellas County, Florida. Water quality is graded B based on 1 sampling years through 2025. Water clarity is declining over recent sampling years. Compared to the 33 other monitored lakes in Pinellas County, Lake Tarpon ranks #3 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, FDEP, last sampled 2025-02-04. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyBacteria A
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 Tarpon never exceeded the EPA safe-swimming threshold (235 MPN/100mL) — on 0% of 11 samples across 7 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)
Very murky, less than 2.3 ft of visibility. Phosphorus level: 30 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 59.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 2.3 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 30 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 59 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Lake Tarpon
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Lake Tarpon in Pinellas 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 Tarpon
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Water Temperature
Lake Tarpon typically sits around 87°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 85°F. Usually warmest in Aug (about 87°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 75 field readings (2010–2024) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Lake Tarpon water temperature breakdown →
Fishing Lake Tarpon
Water Quality Trend: → Stable
Based on 5 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.016 m/yr | 5 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -3 µg/L/yr | 5 |
EPA Impairment Status
Lake Tarpon 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 FL1486A · Official waterbody report
County Ranking
Ranked #3 of 34 lakes in Pinellas County
Nearby Lakes in Pinellas County
Frequently asked questions about Lake Tarpon
Where is Lake Tarpon?
- Lake Tarpon is a lake in Pinellas 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 Tarpon?
- Lake Tarpon in Pinellas County, Florida has a water quality grade of B (Good). Water clarity: 2.3 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 30 µg/L.
Is Lake Tarpon safe to swim in?
- Based on E. coli testing, Lake Tarpon never exceeded the EPA safe-swimming threshold (235 MPN/100mL) — on 0% of 11 samples across 7 seasons. That works out to a bacteria swim-safety grade of A — a historical summary of past testing, not a current reading. Lake Tarpon 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 Tarpon?
- Lake Tarpon typically sits around 87°F at the surface in August, from 75 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2010–2024). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
Explore Lake Tarpon across LakeQuality
More Florida Lake Rankings
Other Grade B Lakes in Florida
Hillsborough County · 4.8 ft
Hillsborough County · 3.3 ft
Hillsborough County · 9 ft
Hillsborough County · 4.3 ft
Hillsborough County · 3.6 ft
Hillsborough County · 3.5 ft
Eutrophic Lakes in Florida
Where this data comes from
331 measurements from 165 monitoring stations, 2020–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Submitting organization not recorded for these samples323 samples · 2020–2025
- Submitting organization not recorded for these samples8 samples · 2024
Monitoring station identifiers (165)
- 21FLPDEM_WQX-LT-D-20-04
- 21FLPDEM_WQX-LT-A-20-03
- 21FLPDEM_WQX-LT-D-20-02
- 21FLPDEM_WQX-LT-C-20-06
- 21FLPDEM_WQX-LT-B-20-04
- 21FLPDEM_WQX-LT-A-20-04
- 21FLPDEM_WQX-LT-A-20-01
- 21FLPDEM_WQX-LT-D-20-06
- 21FLPDEM_WQX-LT-C-20-08
- 21FLPDEM_WQX-LT-D-20-08
- 21FLPDEM_WQX-LT-B-20-03
- 21FLPDEM_WQX-LT-A-20-02
- 21FLPDEM_WQX-LT-B-20-06
- 21FLPDEM_WQX-LT-B-20-05
- 21FLPDEM_WQX-LT-B-20-02
- 21FLPDEM_WQX-LT-A-20-08
- 21FLPDEM_WQX-LT-C-20-05
- 21FLPDEM_WQX-LT-A-20-07
- 21FLPDEM_WQX-LT-B-20-07
- 21FLPDEM_WQX-LT-C-20-01
- 21FLPDEM_WQX-LT-A-20-05
- 21FLPDEM_WQX-LT-C-20-04
- 21FLPDEM_WQX-LT-B-20-01
- 21FLPDEM_WQX-LT-D-20-03
- 21FLPDEM_WQX-LT-C-20-02
- +140 more
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