Barnett Lake
White County, Arkansas245 acresView mapDirections
Nutrients and algae run above the regional average.
↓ down from C at the last regrade
- Eutrophic
- #1 of 1 in the county
- 36 ft max depth
- Public access
- Limited data
Barnett Lake in White County, Arkansas has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Phosphorus: 30 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 11.9 µg/L. Surface area: 245 acres.
- Max depth
- ~36 ft est.
- Area
- 245 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Phosphorus
- 30 µg/L
- Chlorophyll-a
- 11.9 µg/L
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- Yes
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Stays near Barnett Lake
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Barnett Lake is a 245-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in White County, Arkansas with an estimated average depth of about 36 feet. Water quality is graded D based on 3 sampling years through 2026. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, ADEQ, last sampled 2026-02-17. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
Swimming Safety
Grade onlyLimited data
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.
The D is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
Water Quality Grade: D (Nutrient-rich)
No clarity data. Phosphorus 30 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 11.9 µg/L. TSI 54. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | No recent samples | |
| Phosphorus | 30 µg/L | Fair |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 11.9 µg/L | Fair |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 54 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | ~36 ft est. |
| Average Depth | ~26 ft est. |
| Surface Area | 245 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Depth marked “est.” is a modeled maximum from GLOBathy (Khazaei et al. 2022, CC0), not a measured survey. Arkansas has not published bathymetry for Barnett Lake.
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS). Mean depth here is modelled, not surveyed — HydroLAKES v1.0 estimates lake depth from surrounding terrain rather than from soundings. Treat it as an approximation, and prefer a state bathymetric survey where one exists.
Fishing Barnett Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 3 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phosphorus | → Stable | 0 µg/L/yr | 2 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -4.5 µg/L/yr | 3 |
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Barnett Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Des Arc Bayou Wid Site 3 (completed 1979), built primarily for recreation on the Des Arc Bayou; earth-type dam, 128 ft tall and 1,150 ft long.
- Surface area
- 245 ac
- Normal storage
- 6,708 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 25,425 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 38.6 sq mi
- Hazard class
- Significant
- Owner
- Arkansas Game and Fish Commission
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID AR01410 · Operator website · Matched by proximity (0.5 km)
County Ranking
Ranked #1 of 1 lakes in White County
Nearby Lakes in White County
Frequently asked questions about Barnett Lake
Where is Barnett Lake?
- Barnett Lake is a lake in White County, Arkansas. LakeQuality grades it D for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Barnett Lake?
- Barnett Lake in White County, Arkansas has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Phosphorus: 30 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 11.9 µg/L. Surface area: 245 acres.
Is Barnett Lake safe to swim in?
- The D is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
How deep is Barnett Lake?
- No published bathymetric survey covers Barnett Lake, so its depth has not been measured. The HydroLAKES global model estimates an average depth of about 36 feet, but that is a modelled estimate derived from surrounding terrain rather than a measurement on the water, so treat it as approximate. The lake covers 245 acres.
Explore Barnett Lake across LakeQuality
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Other Grade D Lakes in Arkansas
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Where this data comes from
32 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2023–2026. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality
ARDEQH2O_WQX32 samples · 2023–2026
Analytical methods
- 4500 P J ~ Persulfate Method for Simultaneous Determination of Total Nitrogen and Total Phosphorus
- 445.0 ~ EPA; Chlorophyll and Pheophytin in Algae by Fluorescence
- Turbidity by Nephelometry
Monitoring station identifiers (1)
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
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)