Orange-Cherokee Lake
Orange-Cherokee Lake in Orange County, Florida has a water quality grade of B (Good). Water clarity: 3.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 41 µg/L.
- Clarity
- 3.5 ft
- Typical in August
- 87°F
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Trend
- → Stable
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Orange-Cherokee Lake is a productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Orange County, Florida. Water quality is graded B based on 1 sampling years through 2024. Water clarity is declining over recent sampling years. Compared to the 319 other monitored lakes in Orange County, Orange-Cherokee Lake ranks #264 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, FDEP, last sampled 2024-10-27. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyBacteria A · advisory
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, Orange-Cherokee Lake never exceeded the EPA safe-swimming threshold (235 MPN/100mL) — on 0% of 24 samples across 6 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)
Murky, only visible to about 3.5 ft. Phosphorus level: 41 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 58.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 3.5 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 41 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 58 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Orange-Cherokee Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Orange-Cherokee Lake in Orange 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 Orange-Cherokee Lake
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Water Temperature
Orange-Cherokee Lake typically sits around 87°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 88°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 89°F) and coldest in Jan (about 65°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 110 field readings (2010–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Orange-Cherokee Lake water temperature breakdown →
Fishing Orange-Cherokee Lake
Water Quality Trend: → Stable
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.12 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -2.99 µg/L/yr | 6 |
EPA Impairment Status
Orange-Cherokee Lake 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 FL3168Y4 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (0.47 km)
County Ranking
Ranked #264 of 320 lakes in Orange County
Nearby Lakes in Orange County
Frequently asked questions about Orange-Cherokee Lake
Where is Orange-Cherokee Lake?
- Orange-Cherokee Lake is a lake in Orange County, Florida. LakeQuality grades it B for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Orange-Cherokee Lake?
- Orange-Cherokee Lake in Orange County, Florida has a water quality grade of B (Good). Water clarity: 3.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 41 µg/L.
Is Orange-Cherokee Lake safe to swim in?
- Based on E. coli testing, Orange-Cherokee Lake never exceeded the EPA safe-swimming threshold (235 MPN/100mL) — on 0% of 24 samples across 6 seasons. That works out to a bacteria swim-safety grade of A — a historical summary of past testing, not a current reading. Orange-Cherokee Lake 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 Orange-Cherokee Lake?
- Orange-Cherokee Lake typically sits around 87°F at the surface in August, from 110 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2010–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
Explore Orange-Cherokee Lake across LakeQuality
More Florida Lake Rankings
Other Grade B Lakes in Florida
Eutrophic Lakes in Florida
Where this data comes from
18 measurements from 3 monitoring stations, 2024. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- FLORIDA LAKEWATCH
21FLKWAT_WQX18 samples · 2024
Monitoring station identifiers (3)
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