Dierks Lake
Howard County, Arkansas1,360 acresView mapDirections
Nutrients and algae run above the regional average.
↓ down from C at the last regrade
- Eutrophic
- #1 of 2 in the county
- 50 ft max depth
- Public access
- Limited data
Dierks Lake in Howard County, Arkansas has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 4.4 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 40 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 19.7 µg/L. Surface area: 1360 acres.
- Clarity
- 4.4 ft
- Max depth
- ~50 ft est.
- Area
- 1,360 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Phosphorus
- 40 µg/L
- Chlorophyll-a
- 19.7 µg/L
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- Yes
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Dierks Lake is a 1,360-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Howard County, Arkansas with an estimated average depth of about 50 feet. Water quality is graded D based on 2 sampling years through 2019. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available with 3 public boat landings. Compared to the 1 other monitored lakes in Howard County, Dierks Lake ranks #1 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, ADEQ, last sampled 2019-08-19. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
What Dierks Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Boat launch3 documented ramps
- Big water1,360 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 D is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
Water Quality Grade: D (Nutrient-rich)
Murky, only visible to about 4.4 ft. Phosphorus 40 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 19.7 µg/L. TSI 58. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 4.4 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 40 µg/L | Poor |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 19.7 µg/L | Poor |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 58 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | ~50 ft est. |
| Surface Area | 1,360 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 Dierks 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
- Jefferson Ridge (East)Public
- Blue RidgePublic
- Jefferson Ridge (West)Public
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Fishing Dierks Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 7 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | → Stable | +0.086 m/yr | 4 |
| Phosphorus | → Stable | -0.6 µg/L/yr | 7 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +1.11 µg/L/yr | 7 |
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Dierks Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Dierks Dam (completed 1975), built primarily for flood risk reduction on the Saline; rockfill-type dam, 153 ft tall and 2,469 ft long.
- Surface area
- 1,360 ac
- Normal storage
- 29,700 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 159,500 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 114 sq mi
- Hazard class
- High
- Owner
- USACE - Little Rock District
All listed purposes: Flood Risk Reduction;Recreation;Water Supply.
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID AR01202 · Operator website
County Ranking
Ranked #1 of 2 lakes in Howard County
Nearby Lakes in Howard County
Frequently asked questions about Dierks Lake
Where is Dierks Lake?
- Dierks Lake is a lake in Howard County, Arkansas. LakeQuality grades it D for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Dierks Lake?
- Dierks Lake in Howard County, Arkansas has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 4.4 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 40 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 19.7 µg/L. Surface area: 1360 acres.
Is Dierks Lake safe to swim in?
- The D is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
How deep is Dierks Lake?
- No published bathymetric survey covers Dierks Lake, so its depth has not been measured. The HydroLAKES global model estimates an average depth of about 50 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 1360 acres.
Are there boat ramps on Dierks Lake?
- Dierks Lake has 3 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Jefferson Ridge (East), Blue Ridge, Jefferson Ridge (West). Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Dierks Lake across LakeQuality
2 thermal springs within 23.1 mi, nearest Spring On Little Missouri River
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Arkansas's top lakes, each with its grade
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
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Other Grade D Lakes in Arkansas
Eutrophic Lakes in Arkansas
Where this data comes from
187 measurements from 2 monitoring stations, 2012–2019. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality
ARDEQH2O_WQX187 samples · 2012–2019
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
Monitoring station identifiers (2)
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