Our October Lake of the Month is Red Beach Lake (set your GPS to 27.4325
-81.4042). The elevation of Red Beach Lake 75’.
To view of bathymetric map of Red Beach Lake please visit:
http://lakewatch.ifas.ufl.edu/RevisedMaps05/HighlandsMaps/RedBeachHighlandsMap.pdf
Red Beach Lake is located 4.9 miles south southeast of Sebring in Highlands County.
The maximum depth for Red Beach Lake is 18’ although deeper holes may exist. The
average depth is 5.7’. Water overflows the banks of Red Beach Lake into the wooded
wetland along the eastern shore eventually outflowing under U.S. 98 through a culvert.
The water winds its way through various wooded wetlands, ditches, and small streams to
Josephine Creek and eventually into Lake Istokpoga. The only inflows are from rainfall,
stormwater runoff, and underground seepage.
Red Beach Lake is 335 acres in size and is considered a muck lake. The eastern portion is
forested wetland. The western portion has some sandy soils eventually rising to a sand
ridge with an elevation of 110’. The name of the lake is somewhat confusing in
Highlands County because we have a Red Water Lake and two Little Red Water Lakes;
one in Avon Park and one is Lake Placid. The idea of “red water” refers to the stained
water that some of our lakes have. The staining is caused when waters run through
various wooded areas on their way to the lake picking up tannins and other organic
material along the way. When the staining occurs over white sand patches it can give a
red appearance to the water.
Let’s go fishing. If you like fishing, Red Beach Lake is assumed to support good
populations of sunfish like bluegill and bream and possibly crappie. Apparently, bass
fishing is not reported although there is no reason to doubt it would be at least fair. There
is quite a bit of vegetation/habitat scattered around the lake to fish in or near. There are
homes around most of Red Beach Lake except the eastern portion which is wooded
swamp. If you want to get away that’s the place to go including an arm of the lake
reaching well into the swamp. Highlands County’s Parks and Natural Resources
Department maintains one boat ramp on Red Beach Lake; located at 6700 Commerce
Drive. While there is parking for vehicles with trailers, there are no bathroom facilities.
There is a fishing pier and a sheltered picnic area. There is a trash can and a monofilament recycling bin. Please be sure to put all unwanted fishing line in the bin for
recycling. Fishing line left in the lake kills. The fishing line is recycled and made into
numerous fishing products such as line spools and tackle boxes.
The water quality of Red Beach Lake is good. The main five measures that people watch
for; total phosphorus, total nitrogen, chlorophyll a, secchi transparency, and the trophic
state index are all in the good range for a muck lake. The total phosphorus is 16 ppb
(parts per billion). High TP levels for a muck lake are close to 60 ppb. The total nitrogen
is 796 which is slightly elevated. The goal for TN is < 700 ppb. Chlorophyll a is low at
9.5. Elevated numbers approach 20. The secchi disk readings or how far you can see into
the water are 4’ which is good for a stained lake. The trophic state index is 43 which is
well below the upper limit of 55. The trophic state index refers to the total weight of
biomass in a given water body at the time of measurement. While phosphorus and
nitrogen are essential in any water body, too much is not a good thing. As these nutrients
continue to increase the plant biomass increases as well.
Red Beach Lake boat ramp, picnic shelter and fishing pier.
Northern shore of Red Beach Lake.
Aerial view of Red Beach Lake. U.S. 98 lies to the south.