Garland County Lake Quality
Arkansas, 11 lakes, average grade C (Fair)
Only 11 lakes in Garland County carry an active grade. The county-level summary is therefore representative of those specific lakes, not necessarily of every water body in the county. The county average is C — the middle of the rubric, with one or two lakes pulling the average up or down depending on year.
The county's lakes lean shallow, which makes the grades sensitive to wind, sediment-resuspension, and any nutrient inputs from the watershed. The cleanest lake on the books is Lake Ouachita (A); the most-stressed is Lake Catherine (D).
Quick Answers for Garland County
Planning a trip? Check special fishing regulations for Lake Ouachita — or check the official Arkansas fishing regulations.
All Lakes in Garland County
| Rank | Lake | Grade | Clarity | Phosphorus |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lake Ouachita | A | 15 ft | 20 µg/L |
| 2 | Lake Hamilton | B | 11.9 ft | 22.5 µg/L |
| 3 | Nla Lake | B | 8.3 ft | 13.9 µg/L |
| 4 | Lake Ouachita | B | 13 ft | - |
| 5 | Lake Catherine | C | 6 ft | 76 µg/L |
| 6 | Lake Catherine | C | 4.1 ft | 33 µg/L |
| 7 | Lake Catherine Off of Springbrook Point | C | 4.8 ft | 34.5 µg/L |
| 8 | Lake Catherine | D | 3.1 ft | 48 µg/L |
| 9 | Lake Catherine | D | 3.2 ft | 41 µg/L |
Other Counties in Arkansas
See how Garland County stacks up in the national county water-quality rankings, or browse the full directory of graded lakes across all 34 states.
Where to stay near Garland County
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Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.