Sandy Lake
Sandy Lake in Orange County, Florida has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 3.1 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 54 µg/L.
- Clarity
- 3.1 ft
- Typical in August
- 87°F
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Trend
- → Stable
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Sandy Lake is a productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Orange County, Florida. Water quality is graded C based on 1 sampling years through 2025. Water clarity is declining over recent sampling years. Compared to the 319 other monitored lakes in Orange County, Sandy Lake ranks #270 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, FDEP, last sampled 2025-01-27. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyBacteria B
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, Sandy Lake rarely exceeded the EPA safe-swimming threshold (235 MPN/100mL) — on 4.2% 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: C (Fair)
Very murky, less than 3.1 ft of visibility. Phosphorus level: 54 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 61.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 3.1 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 54 µg/L | Fair |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 61 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Sandy Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Sandy 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 Sandy Lake
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Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Florida’s top lakes →
Water Temperature
Sandy Lake typically sits around 87°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 86°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 87°F) and coldest in Feb (about 60°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 93 field readings (2010–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Sandy Lake water temperature breakdown →
Fishing Sandy Lake
Water Quality Trend: → Stable
Based on 5 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.05 m/yr | 5 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -5.5 µg/L/yr | 5 |
EPA Impairment Status
Sandy 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 FL3169T · Official waterbody report
County Ranking
Ranked #270 of 320 lakes in Orange County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Sandy Lake holds Grade C. 3 nearby lakes hold higher nutrient-and-algae grades — useful for a swim day, not a reason to skip lodging here.
Nearby Lakes in Orange County
Frequently asked questions about Sandy Lake
Where is Sandy Lake?
- Sandy Lake is a lake in Orange County, Florida. LakeQuality grades it C for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Sandy Lake?
- Sandy Lake in Orange County, Florida has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 3.1 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 54 µg/L.
Is Sandy Lake safe to swim in?
- Based on E. coli testing, Sandy Lake rarely exceeded the EPA safe-swimming threshold (235 MPN/100mL) — on 4.2% of 24 samples across 6 seasons. That works out to a bacteria swim-safety grade of B — a historical summary of past testing, not a current reading. Sandy Lake has a water quality grade of C (Fair). 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 Sandy Lake?
- Sandy Lake typically sits around 87°F at the surface in August, from 93 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2010–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
Explore Sandy Lake across LakeQuality
More Florida Lake Rankings
Other Grade C Lakes in Florida
Eutrophic Lakes in Florida
Where this data comes from
34 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 samples34 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