Sarasota-South Lake
Sarasota-South Lake in Sarasota County, Florida has a water quality grade of B (Good). Water clarity: 6.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 25 µg/L.
- Clarity
- 6.5 ft
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Trend
- → Stable
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Sarasota-South Lake is a productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Sarasota County, Florida. Water quality is graded B 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-South Lake ranks #7 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 onlyLow algae
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.
Good for swimming, clear water with low algae levels
Water Quality Grade: B (Good)
Murky, only visible to about 6.5 ft. Phosphorus level: 25 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 50.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 6.5 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 25 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 50 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Sarasota-South Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Sarasota-South 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-South Lake
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Fishing Sarasota-South 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-South 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 (1.68 km)
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
1 EPA-permitted facility operate within about 5 miles of Sarasota-South Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits. 1 facility has a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Venice Ranch Mhe Ro PlantVenice · 0.8 mi away · NPDES FL0189065Recent violation
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 #7 of 30 lakes in Sarasota County
Nearby Lakes in Sarasota County
Frequently asked questions about Sarasota-South Lake
Where is Sarasota-South Lake?
- Sarasota-South Lake is a lake in Sarasota County, Florida. LakeQuality grades it B for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Sarasota-South Lake?
- Sarasota-South Lake in Sarasota County, Florida has a water quality grade of B (Good). Water clarity: 6.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 25 µg/L.
Is Sarasota-South Lake safe to swim in?
- Good for swimming, clear water with low algae levels. Sarasota-South Lake has a water quality grade of B (Good). Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
Explore Sarasota-South Lake across LakeQuality
2 thermal springs within 9.7 mi, nearest Warm Mineral Springs (Big Salt Spr)
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Florida's top lakes, each with its grade
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Florida's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
More Florida Lake Rankings
Other Grade B Lakes in Florida
Eutrophic Lakes in Florida
Where this data comes from
113 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_WQX113 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
Regulated discharger data from EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES)