Lakewales
Polk County, FloridaView mapDirections
No nutrient or algae sampling on record from Florida DEP for this lake.
- Impaired · Algal growth
- Public access
- Limited data
Lakewales in Polk County, Florida has water-quality measurements published by Florida DEP, shown here as reported.
Lakewales is a lake in Polk County, Florida. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, FDEP, last sampled 2020-10-20. Methodology: how these readings are compared.
What Lakewales is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Boat launch1 documented ramp
Swimming conditions
No readingRecreation use not supported
Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Lakewales is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 4A) for algal growth, nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen). Check local advisories before you swim.
Whether Lakewales 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 Lakewales
These are the measurements Florida DEP publishes for Lakewales, shown as reported. The condition class beside each reading is the EPA National Lakes Assessment class for this lake’s ecoregion.
No clarity data.
Ask about Lakewales
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
Water Temperature
Lakewales typically sits around 80°F at the surface in October. Summer average is about 86°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 87°F) and coldest in Jan (about 66°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Column height runs from this lake’s coldest month (66°F) to its warmest (87°F).
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 64 field readings (2010–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Lakewales water temperature breakdown →
Recreation & Access
- Lake Wales Public Boat RampPublic
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Stays via Stay22
Stays near Lakewales
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Lakewales in Polk 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 Lakewales
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Follow Lakewales’s readings
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Fishing Lakewales
Water Quality Trend: Worsening
Based on 6 years of monitoring (2020–2025).
Water clarity
Stable6 years
Phosphorus
Worsening+1.6 µg/L/yr6 years
EPA Impairment Status
Lakewales is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2022 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 4A).
Causes of impairment
Designated uses not supporting: Aquatic life, Recreation.
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit FL1619A · Official waterbody report
Nearby Lakes in Polk County
Frequently asked questions about Lakewales
Where is Lakewales?
- Lakewales is a lake in Polk County, Florida. Its water-quality measurements are published by Florida DEP and shown on this page as reported.
What is the water quality of Lakewales?
- Lakewales in Polk County, Florida has water-quality measurements published by Florida DEP, shown here as reported.
Is Lakewales safe to swim in?
- Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Lakewales is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 4A) for algal growth, nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen). Check local advisories before you swim.
What is the water temperature of Lakewales?
- Lakewales typically sits around 80°F at the surface in October, from 64 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 Lakewales?
- Lakewales has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Lake Wales Public Boat Ramp. Public access is listed as yes.
Can I fish at Lakewales?
- Lakewales has 1 documented boat landing 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.
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Where this data comes from
2 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2020. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Submitting organization not recorded for these samples2 samples · 2020
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
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory