Cove Lake
Logan County, Arkansas166 acresView mapDirections
Not enough samples to grade — the only measurement available is water clarity, which is not a water-quality indicator on its own — EPA's National Lakes Assessment does not grade clarity. No letter yet. Here is what we do have.
- Impaired · Mercury
- Public access
- Limited data
Cove Lake in Logan County, Arkansas is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 3.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 43.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 8.5 µg/L. Surface area: 166 acres.
- Clarity
- 3.5 ft
- Area
- 166 acres
- Phosphorus
- 43.5 µg/L
- Chlorophyll-a
- 8.5 µg/L
- Trend
- → Stable
- Public access
- Yes
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Stays near Cove Lake
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Watch Cove Lake’s letter
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Why Cove Lake has no grade
We grade a lake only when the monitoring record supports a letter: at least three phosphorus or chlorophyll-a samples in the last ten years, scored against EPA National Lakes Assessment thresholds for this lake’s ecoregion. For Cove Lake, the only measurement available is water clarity, which is not a water-quality indicator on its own — EPA's National Lakes Assessment does not grade clarity. Sampling here has recorded water clarity, phosphorus and algae (chlorophyll-a).
Not Rated is not an F. It is EPA Integrated Reporting Category 3 — insufficient information. The water here may be excellent or poor; nobody has measured enough of it to say. Everything below that has been measured is still reported on this page.
Sampling is run by ADEQ and volunteer programs, and published through the EPA Water Quality Portal. Read the full grading methodology.
Cove Lake is a 166-acre lake in Logan County, Arkansas. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, ADEQ, last sampled 2012-10-01. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
What Cove Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Boat launch1 documented ramp
Swimming Safety
Not ratedLimited data
The letter is not a swimming clearance. Cove Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 4A) for mercury. Check local advisories before you swim.
Water quality measurements for Cove Lake
These readings exist but are not enough for an A–F grade — see why.
Murky, only visible to about 3.5 ft. Phosphorus 43.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 8.5 µg/L. TSI 56.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 3.5 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 43.5 µg/L | Not graded |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 8.5 µg/L | Not graded |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 56 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 166 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
No bathymetric survey has been published for Cove Lake, so its depth is not documented here.
Recreation & Access
- Cove Lake Recreation AreaPublic
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Fishing Cove Lake
Water Quality Trend: → Stable
Based on 2 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | → Stable | +0.014 m/yr | 2 |
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Cove Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Cove Lake (completed 1938), built primarily for fish and wildlife pond on the Cove Creek; earth-type dam, 62 ft tall and 900 ft long.
- Surface area
- 166 ac
- Normal storage
- 2,300 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 2,300 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 9 sq mi
- Hazard class
- High
- Owner
- USDA FS
All listed purposes: Fish and Wildlife Pond;Recreation.
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID AR00886 · Operator website
EPA Impairment Status
Cove Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2022 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 4A).
Causes of impairment
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit AR_11110202_4030 · Official waterbody report
Graded lakes near Cove Lake
Cove Lake has no grade, but these lakes within a short drive do.
Nearby Lakes in Logan County
Frequently asked questions about Cove Lake
Where is Cove Lake?
- Cove Lake is a lake in Logan County, Arkansas. LakeQuality has not rated this lake (UNRATED) — the only measurement available is water clarity, which is not a water-quality indicator on its own — EPA's National Lakes Assessment does not grade clarity.
What is the water quality grade for Cove Lake?
- Cove Lake in Logan County, Arkansas is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 3.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 43.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 8.5 µg/L. Surface area: 166 acres.
Is Cove Lake safe to swim in?
- The letter is not a swimming clearance. Cove Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 4A) for mercury. Check local advisories before you swim.
Are there boat ramps on Cove Lake?
- Cove Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Cove Lake Recreation Area. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Cove Lake across LakeQuality
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Where this data comes from
24 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2012. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- USGS Arkansas Water Science Center
USGS-AR24 samples · 2012
Analytical methods
- Secchi disk method
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
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory