Sarasota-Heron Lagoon Lake
Sarasota-Heron Lagoon Lake in Sarasota County, Florida has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 3.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 74.5 µg/L.
- Clarity
- 3.5 ft
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Trend
- → Stable
- Public access
- Yes
Grade D measures nutrients and algae, not whether this is a good place for a cabin trip. Cabins and rentals near Sarasota-Heron Lagoon Lake →
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Sarasota-Heron Lagoon Lake is a productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Sarasota County, Florida. Water quality is graded D based on 1 sampling years through 2022. Water clarity is declining over recent sampling years. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available with 2 public boat landings. Compared to the 29 other monitored lakes in Sarasota County, Sarasota-Heron Lagoon Lake ranks #16 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, FDEP, last sampled 2022-02-20. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyElevated nutrients
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)
Murky, only visible to about 3.5 ft. Phosphorus level: 74.5 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 63.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 3.5 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 74.5 µg/L | Poor |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 63 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Sarasota-Heron Lagoon Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Sarasota-Heron Lagoon 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 Sarasota-Heron Lagoon Lake are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Sarasota-Heron Lagoon Lake
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Recreation & Access
- Turtle Beach Public Boat RampPublic
- Vamo Primitive Boat RampPublic
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Fishing Sarasota-Heron Lagoon Lake
Water Quality Trend: → Stable
Based on 2 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.75 m/yr | 2 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -22 µg/L/yr | 2 |
EPA Impairment Status
Sarasota-Heron Lagoon Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2022 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 4A).
Causes of impairment
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit FL1979 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (1.17 km)
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
1 EPA-permitted facility operate within about 5 miles of Sarasota-Heron Lagoon Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits, including 1 classified by the EPA as major discharger.
- Siesta Key Utilities AuthoritySarasota · 2.8 mi away · NPDES FL0025755Major
Facilities permitted to discharge under the Clean Water Act within ~5 miles; proximity does not by itself mean a facility affects this lake. Source: EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES), as of 2026-07.
County Ranking
Ranked #16 of 30 lakes in Sarasota County
Nearby Lakes in Sarasota County
Frequently asked questions about Sarasota-Heron Lagoon Lake
Where is Sarasota-Heron Lagoon Lake?
- Sarasota-Heron Lagoon 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 Sarasota-Heron Lagoon Lake?
- Sarasota-Heron Lagoon Lake in Sarasota County, Florida has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 3.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 74.5 µg/L.
Is Sarasota-Heron Lagoon 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. Sarasota-Heron Lagoon Lake has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
Are there boat ramps on Sarasota-Heron Lagoon Lake?
- Sarasota-Heron Lagoon Lake has 2 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Turtle Beach Public Boat Ramp, Vamo Primitive Boat Ramp. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Sarasota-Heron Lagoon Lake across LakeQuality
More Florida Lake Rankings
Other Grade D Lakes in Florida
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Where this data comes from
124 measurements from 5 monitoring stations, 2020–2022. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- FLORIDA LAKEWATCH
21FLKWAT_WQX124 samples · 2020–2022
Monitoring station identifiers (5)
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
Regulated discharger data from EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES)
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory