Red Bug Slough Lake
Red Bug Slough Lake in Sarasota County, Florida has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Phosphorus: 141 µg/L.
- Typical in August
- 88°F
- Type
- Hypereutrophic
- Trend
- → Stable
Grade D measures nutrients and algae, not whether this is a good place for a cabin trip. Cabins and rentals near Red Bug Slough Lake →
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Red Bug Slough Lake is a highly nutrient-loaded hypereutrophic lake in Sarasota County, Florida. Water quality is graded D based on 1 sampling years through 2025. Water clarity is declining over recent sampling years. Compared to the 29 other monitored lakes in Sarasota County, Red Bug Slough Lake ranks #30 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, FDEP, last sampled 2025-07-21. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyBacteria F · 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, Red Bug Slough Lake routinely exceeded the EPA safe-swimming threshold (235 MPN/100mL) — on 60% of 95 samples across 8 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: D (Nutrient-rich)
No clarity data. Phosphorus level: 141 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 76.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | No recent samples | |
| Phosphorus | 141 µg/L | Poor |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 76 | Hypereutrophic |
Very high nutrients, dense algae, poor clarity
Where to stay near Red Bug Slough Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Red Bug Slough Lake in Sarasota 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 Red Bug Slough Lake are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Red Bug Slough Lake
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Water Temperature
Red Bug Slough Lake typically sits around 88°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 87°F. Usually warmest in Aug (about 88°F) and coldest in Jan (about 64°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 107 field readings (2016–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Red Bug Slough Lake water temperature breakdown →
Fishing Red Bug Slough Lake
Water Quality Trend: → Stable
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.25 m/yr | 2 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -4.47 µg/L/yr | 6 |
EPA Impairment Status
Red Bug Slough 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 FL1971 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (0.95 km)
County Ranking
Ranked #30 of 30 lakes in Sarasota County
Nearby Lakes in Sarasota County
Frequently asked questions about Red Bug Slough Lake
Where is Red Bug Slough Lake?
- Red Bug Slough Lake is a lake in Sarasota County, Florida. LakeQuality grades it D for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Red Bug Slough Lake?
- Red Bug Slough Lake in Sarasota County, Florida has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Phosphorus: 141 µg/L.
Is Red Bug Slough Lake safe to swim in?
- Based on E. coli testing, Red Bug Slough Lake routinely exceeded the EPA safe-swimming threshold (235 MPN/100mL) — on 60% of 95 samples across 8 seasons. That works out to a bacteria swim-safety grade of F — a historical summary of past testing, not a current reading. Red Bug Slough Lake has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). 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 Red Bug Slough Lake?
- Red Bug Slough Lake typically sits around 88°F at the surface in August, from 107 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2016–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
Explore Red Bug Slough Lake across LakeQuality
More Florida Lake Rankings
Other Grade D Lakes in Florida
Hypereutrophic Lakes in Florida
Where this data comes from
68 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2020–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Submitting organization not recorded for these samples68 samples · 2020–2025
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