Lake Vedra
Lake Vedra in St. Johns County, Florida has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 2.3 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 360 µg/L. Surface area: 42 acres.
- Clarity
- 2.3 ft
- Typical in July
- 89°F
- Area
- 42 acres
- Type
- Hypereutrophic
Grade D measures nutrients and algae, not whether this is a good place for a cabin trip. Cabins and rentals near Lake Vedra →
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Lake Vedra is a 42-acre highly nutrient-loaded hypereutrophic lake in St. Johns County, Florida. Water quality is graded D based on 1 sampling years through 2024. Compared to the 6 other monitored lakes in St. Johns County, Lake Vedra ranks #4 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, FDEP, last sampled 2024-11-13. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyLimited data
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.
Nutrients and algae run higher than average — check local advisories before swimming, and skip the water if you see scum
Water Quality Grade: D (Nutrient-rich)
Very murky, less than 2.3 ft of visibility. Phosphorus level: 360 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 77.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 2.3 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 360 µg/L | Poor |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 77 | Hypereutrophic |
Very high nutrients, dense algae, poor clarity
Where to stay near Lake Vedra
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Lake Vedra in St. Johns 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 Vedra are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Lake Vedra
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 →
Water Temperature
Lake Vedra typically sits around 89°F at the surface in July. Summer average is about 86°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 89°F) and coldest in Jan (about 58°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 19 field readings (2011–2024) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Lake Vedra water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 42 acres |
No bathymetric survey has been published for Lake Vedra, so its depth is not documented here.
Fishing Lake Vedra
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Lake Vedra is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Lake Vedra Dam, built primarily for flood risk reduction on the Guana River; earth-type dam, 12 ft tall and 268 ft long.
- Surface area
- 42 ac
- Normal storage
- 84 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 282 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 2.36 sq mi
- Hazard class
- Significant
- Owner
- PONTE VEDRA CORP
All listed purposes: Flood Risk Reduction;Recreation;Water Supply.
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID FL70004 · Operator website
EPA Impairment Status
Lake Vedra 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 FL2320B1 · Official waterbody report
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
5 EPA-permitted facilities operate within about 5 miles of Lake Vedra 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.
- Jacksonville Beach WwtfJacksonville Beach · 3.7 mi away · NPDES FL0020231MajorRecent violation
- Jacksonville Beach, City Of - MS4Jacksonville Beach · 4.4 mi away · NPDES FLS000013Major
- Ponte Vedra WrfPonte Vedra Beach · 1.1 mi away · NPDES FL0117951Recent violation
- Marsh Landing WwtfPonte Vedra Beach · 1.6 mi away · NPDES FL0044253Recent violation
- Innlet Beach WwtfPonte Vedra Beach · 1 mi away · NPDES FL0044237
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.
County Ranking
Ranked #4 of 7 lakes in St. Johns County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Lake Vedra holds Grade D. One nearby lake has a higher nutrient-and-algae grade — useful for a swim day, not a reason to skip lodging here.
Nearby Lakes in St. Johns County
Frequently asked questions about Lake Vedra
Where is Lake Vedra?
- Lake Vedra is a lake in St. Johns 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 Vedra?
- Lake Vedra in St. Johns County, Florida has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 2.3 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 360 µg/L. Surface area: 42 acres.
Is Lake Vedra safe to swim in?
- Nutrients and algae run higher than average — check local advisories before swimming, and skip the water if you see scum. Lake Vedra has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Lake Vedra?
- Lake Vedra typically sits around 89°F at the surface in July, from 19 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2011–2024). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
Explore Lake Vedra across LakeQuality
Planning a trip around Castillo de San Marcos?
Lake Vedra is about 23 miles from Castillo de San Marcos National Monument. Crowds there swing hard by season, so the month you pick changes both how busy the park is and what lodging costs.
Best time to visit Castillo de San Marcos →More Florida Lake Rankings
Other Grade D Lakes in Florida
Hypereutrophic Lakes in Florida
Where this data comes from
12 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2024. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- FL Dept. of Environmental Protection, Northeast District
21FLA_WQX12 samples · 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
Regulated discharger data from EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES)