Cane Creek Lake
Lincoln County, Arkansas1,620 acresView mapDirections
Nutrients and algae sit mid-range for this region.
- Eutrophic
- #1 of 1 in the county
- 37 ft max depth
- Public access
- Limited data
Cane Creek Lake in Lincoln County, Arkansas has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Phosphorus: 30 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 14.1 µg/L. Surface area: 1620 acres.
- Max depth
- ~37 ft est.
- Area
- 1,620 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Phosphorus
- 30 µg/L
- Chlorophyll-a
- 14.1 µg/L
- Trend
- → Stable
- Public access
- Yes
Stays via Stay22
Stays near Cane Creek Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Cane Creek Lake in Lincoln County, Arkansas — live availability and prices for your trip. Switch the map to Satellite to see the lake and how close each stay is to the water.
Top-rated places to stay near Cane Creek Lake
Prices for Sep 11–13, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.
Availability and prices from Stay22 partners (Booking.com, Vrbo, Expedia). We may earn a commission from bookings, at no extra cost to you.
Planning a trip? Cabins and lodging at Cane Creek Lake → · more Arkansas lake trips
Watch Cane Creek Lake’s letter
Email me if this lake’s grade moves. Grades stay free.
Or email
Cane Creek Lake is a 1,620-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Lincoln County, Arkansas with an estimated average depth of about 37 feet. Water quality is graded C based on 3 sampling years through 2026. Phosphorus level is declining over recent sampling years. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available with 4 public boat landings.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, ADEQ, last sampled 2026-01-13. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
What Cane Creek Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Boat launch4 documented ramps
- Big water1,620 acres
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 C is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
Water Quality Grade: C (Fair)
No clarity data. Phosphorus 30 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 14.1 µg/L. TSI 55. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | No recent samples | |
| Phosphorus | 30 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 14.1 µg/L | Fair |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 55 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | ~37 ft est. |
| Average Depth | ~17 ft est. |
| Surface Area | 1,620 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 Cane Creek 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.
Recreation & Access
- Cane Creek State ParkPublic
- Cane Creek State ParkPublic
- Cane Creek State Park (East)Public
- Cane Creek State Park (West)Public
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Fishing Cane Creek Lake
Water Quality Trend: → Stable
Based on 3 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +5 µg/L/yr | 2 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -0.8 µg/L/yr | 3 |
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Cane Creek Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Cane Creek (completed 1989), built primarily for recreation on the Cane Crk Trb Bayou Bartho; earth-type dam, 27 ft tall and 21,000 ft long.
- Surface area
- 1,620 ac
- Normal storage
- 9,800 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 22,600 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 21 sq mi
- Hazard class
- Significant
- Owner
- Arkansas Game and Fish Commission
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID AR01460 · Operator website
County Ranking
Ranked #1 of 1 lakes in Lincoln County
Nearby Lakes in Lincoln County
Frequently asked questions about Cane Creek Lake
Where is Cane Creek Lake?
- Cane Creek Lake is a lake in Lincoln County, Arkansas. LakeQuality grades it C for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Cane Creek Lake?
- Cane Creek Lake in Lincoln County, Arkansas has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Phosphorus: 30 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 14.1 µg/L. Surface area: 1620 acres.
Is Cane Creek Lake safe to swim in?
- The C is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
How deep is Cane Creek Lake?
- No published bathymetric survey covers Cane Creek Lake, so its depth has not been measured. The HydroLAKES global model estimates an average depth of about 37 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 1620 acres.
Are there boat ramps on Cane Creek Lake?
- Cane Creek Lake has 4 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Cane Creek State Park, Cane Creek State Park, Cane Creek State Park (East), Cane Creek State Park (West). Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Cane Creek Lake across LakeQuality
More Arkansas Lake Rankings
Other Grade C Lakes in Arkansas
Eutrophic Lakes in Arkansas
Where this data comes from
33 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_WQX33 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)
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory