Lowref Lake
Lowref Lake in Suwannee County, Florida has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 2 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 73 µg/L.
- Clarity
- 2 ft
- Typical in July
- 77°F
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
Grade D measures nutrients and algae, not whether this is a good place for a cabin trip. Cabins and rentals near Lowref Lake →
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Lowref Lake is a productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Suwannee County, Florida. Water quality is graded D based on 1 sampling years through 2025. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, FDEP, last sampled 2025-07-29. 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 ft of visibility. Phosphorus level: 73 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 67.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 2 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 73 µg/L | Poor |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 67 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Lowref Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Lowref Lake in Suwannee 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 Lowref Lake are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Lowref Lake
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Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Florida’s top lakes →
Water Temperature
Lowref Lake typically sits around 77°F at the surface in July. Summer average is about 77°F. Usually warmest in Jun (about 77°F) and coldest in Jan (about 52°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 34 field readings (2010–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Lowref Lake water temperature breakdown →
Fishing Lowref Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 2 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.3 m/yr | 2 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -41 µg/L/yr | 2 |
EPA Impairment Status
Lowref Lake 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 FL3496A · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (0.16 km)
County Ranking
Ranked #1 of 1 lakes in Suwannee County
Nearby Lakes in Suwannee County
Frequently asked questions about Lowref Lake
Where is Lowref Lake?
- Lowref Lake is a lake in Suwannee County, Florida. LakeQuality grades it D for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Lowref Lake?
- Lowref Lake in Suwannee County, Florida has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 2 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 73 µg/L.
Is Lowref Lake safe to swim in?
- Nutrients and algae run higher than average — check local advisories before swimming, and skip the water if you see scum. Lowref Lake has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Lowref Lake?
- Lowref Lake typically sits around 77°F at the surface in July, from 34 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2010–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
Explore Lowref Lake across LakeQuality
More Florida Lake Rankings
Other Grade D Lakes in Florida
Eutrophic Lakes in Florida
Where this data comes from
20 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2024–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- FL Dept. of Environmental Protection, Northeast District
21FLA_WQX20 samples · 2024–2025
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