Crystal Lake
Benton County, Arkansas42 acresView mapDirections
Nutrients and algae run well above the regional average.
↓ down from D at the last regrade
- Hypereutrophic
- #4 of 4 in the county
- Limited data
Crystal Lake in Benton County, Arkansas has a water quality grade of F (Algae-prone). Phosphorus: 40 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 35.3 µg/L. Surface area: 42 acres.
- Area
- 42 acres
- Type
- Hypereutrophic
- Phosphorus
- 40 µg/L
- Chlorophyll-a
- 35.3 µg/L
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
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Stays near Crystal Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Crystal Lake in Benton 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. The water-quality grade measures nutrients and algae, not lodging — cabins and rentals around Crystal Lake are listed below.
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Watch Crystal Lake’s letter
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Crystal Lake is a 42-acre highly nutrient-loaded hypereutrophic lake in Benton County, Arkansas. Water quality is graded F based on 1 sampling years through 2026. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. Compared to the 3 other monitored lakes in Benton County, Crystal Lake ranks #4 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, ADEQ, last sampled 2026-02-24. 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 F is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
Water Quality Grade: F (Algae-prone)
No clarity data. Phosphorus 40 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 35.3 µg/L. TSI 61. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | No recent samples | |
| Phosphorus | 40 µg/L | Not graded |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 35.3 µg/L | Poor |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 61 | Hypereutrophic |
Very high nutrients, dense algae, poor clarity
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 42 acres |
No bathymetric survey has been published for Crystal Lake, so its depth is not documented here.
Fishing Crystal Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 3 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +10.3 µg/L/yr | 3 |
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Crystal Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Crystal Lake Dam (completed 1959), built primarily for recreation on the Wolf Creek; earth-type dam, 50 ft tall and 340 ft long.
- Surface area
- 42 ac
- Normal storage
- 674 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 894 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 5.2 sq mi
- Hazard class
- Significant
- Owner
- Arkansas Game and Fish Commission
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID AR00260 · Operator website
County Ranking
Ranked #4 of 4 lakes in Benton County
Nearby Lakes in Benton County
Frequently asked questions about Crystal Lake
Where is Crystal Lake?
- Crystal Lake is a lake in Benton County, Arkansas. LakeQuality grades it F for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Crystal Lake?
- Crystal Lake in Benton County, Arkansas has a water quality grade of F (Algae-prone). Phosphorus: 40 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 35.3 µg/L. Surface area: 42 acres.
Is Crystal Lake safe to swim in?
- The F is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
Explore Crystal Lake across LakeQuality
2 documented falls within 17.2 mi, nearest Natural Falls
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Arkansas's top lakes, each with its grade
Very high nutrients, dense algae, poor clarity
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Other Grade F Lakes in Arkansas
Hypereutrophic Lakes in Arkansas
Where this data comes from
34 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_WQX34 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.