Overview
Lake Griffin is a roughly 9,400-acre lake in Lake County and the downstream collecting basin of the Harris Chain of Lakes northwest of Orlando. Water from Apopka, Harris, Eustis, and the other chain lakes drains into Griffin, then continues north into the Ocklawaha River toward the St. Johns. Levels and basin restoration are led by the St. Johns River Water Management District.
Griffin is relatively shallow for its size, with a maximum depth near 20 feet and broad marshy shorelines that are less developed than many Central Florida lakes. Emergent vegetation, cypress, and open flats create extensive littoral habitat. A dam on the Ocklawaha below the lake and structures on Haynes Creek help regulate stages through the chain.
The lake is a popular fishery for largemouth bass, speckled perch (black crappie), bluegill, and catfish, managed by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Public ramps, Lake Griffin State Park, and nearby Leesburg-area access support boating, camping, and wildlife viewing along the Ocklawaha corridor.
SJRWMD manages Griffin stages with a desired operating band near 57 to 58 feet above mean sea level (NAVD88) under the Harris Chain regulation framework. Because Griffin receives the combined outflow of Lake Apopka and Lake Harris, elevations can change with basin rainfall and structure releases, so monitoring current lake levels helps with boating and shoreline access.
Current Conditions
Lake Griffin is currently 3.08 feet above full pool and has remained relatively stable over the past seven days.
- 7-day trendStableLatest movement can differ from the seven-day trend.
- 7-day changeUp 0.02 ft
- 30-day changeDown 0.16 ft
- Drought conditionsModerate Drought
About This Lake
Learn how this lake is managed, what affects its water level, and where Lake Insights gets its data.
Lake Griffin is a 9,428-acre reservoir on the Haynes Creek (from Lake Eustis / Harris Chain) and local runoff managed by St. Johns River Water Management District.