Sarasota-Center Lake
Sarasota-Center Lake in Sarasota County, Florida has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 7.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 47 µg/L.
- Clarity
- 7.5 ft
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Trend
- → Stable
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Sarasota-Center Lake is a productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Sarasota County, Florida. Water quality is graded C based on 1 sampling years through 2024. Water clarity is improving over recent sampling years. Compared to the 29 other monitored lakes in Sarasota County, Sarasota-Center Lake ranks #14 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, FDEP, last sampled 2024-05-09. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyModerate
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.
Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality
Water Quality Grade: C (Fair)
Moderate clarity, visible to about 7.5 ft. Phosphorus level: 47 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 54.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 7.5 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 47 µg/L | Fair |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 54 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Sarasota-Center Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Sarasota-Center 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.
Top-rated places to stay near Sarasota-Center Lake
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Fishing Sarasota-Center Lake
Water Quality Trend: → Stable
Based on 2 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +1.5 m/yr | 2 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +2 µg/L/yr | 2 |
EPA Impairment Status
Sarasota-Center 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 FL2009C · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (1.51 km)
County Ranking
Ranked #14 of 30 lakes in Sarasota County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Sarasota-Center Lake holds Grade C. 2 nearby lakes hold higher nutrient-and-algae grades — useful for a swim day, not a reason to skip lodging here.
See full comparison →Nearby Lakes in Sarasota County
Frequently asked questions about Sarasota-Center Lake
Where is Sarasota-Center Lake?
- Sarasota-Center Lake is a lake in Sarasota County, Florida. LakeQuality grades it C for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Sarasota-Center Lake?
- Sarasota-Center Lake in Sarasota County, Florida has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 7.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 47 µg/L.
Is Sarasota-Center Lake safe to swim in?
- Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality. Sarasota-Center Lake has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
Explore Sarasota-Center Lake across LakeQuality
More Florida Lake Rankings
Other Grade C Lakes in Florida
Eutrophic Lakes in Florida
Where this data comes from
111 measurements from 3 monitoring stations, 2022–2024. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- FLORIDA LAKEWATCH
21FLKWAT_WQX111 samples · 2022–2024
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