Overview
Lake Harris is the largest lake in the Harris Chain, covering about 16,500 acres (including Little Lake Harris) in Lake County between Leesburg and Howey-in-the-Hills. It sits mid-chain between the Apopka–Beauclair system upstream and Eustis–Griffin downstream in the Ocklawaha basin. Water levels are managed by the St. Johns River Water Management District as part of the Upper Ocklawaha River Basin.
Harris averages roughly 10 to 12 feet deep, with a deep trench along the southern shoreline reaching about 30 feet. The lake mixes open water, residential shoreline, and vegetated littoral zones, and canals connect it to neighboring Harris Chain lakes for navigation when stages allow.
It is a major Central Florida fishing and boating lake for largemouth bass, crappie, bluegill, and catfish, with fisheries managed by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Numerous public ramps, marinas, and parks—including Hickory Point—serve heavy recreational use from the Orlando metro area.
SJRWMD's desired operating band for Lake Harris is about 61 to 62 feet above mean sea level (NAVD88). Stages track the Harris Chain regulation schedule and upstream restoration flows from Lake Apopka, so checking current elevations is important for canal navigation, docks, and fishing.
Current Conditions
Lake Harris is currently 0.89 feet below full pool and has risen slightly over the past week.
- 7-day trendRisingLatest movement can differ from the seven-day trend.
- 7-day changeUp 0.05 ft
- 30-day changeDown 0.13 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 Harris is a 16,532-acre reservoir on the Apopka-Beauclair Canal system via Lakes Beauclair and Dora managed by St. Johns River Water Management District.