Gillham Lake
Howard County, Arkansas1,300 acresView mapDirections
Nutrients and algae run above the regional average.
↓ down from C at the last regrade
- Eutrophic
- #2 of 2 in the county
- Limited data
Gillham Lake in Howard County, Arkansas has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 5.1 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 34 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 14.4 µg/L. Surface area: 1300 acres.
- Clarity
- 5.1 ft
- Area
- 1,300 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Phosphorus
- 34 µg/L
- Chlorophyll-a
- 14.4 µg/L
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
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Stays near Gillham Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Gillham Lake in Howard 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 Gillham Lake are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Gillham Lake
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Watch Gillham Lake’s letter
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Gillham Lake is a 1,300-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Howard County, Arkansas. Water quality is graded D based on 2 sampling years through 2019. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. Compared to the 1 other monitored lakes in Howard County, Gillham Lake ranks #2 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, ADEQ, last sampled 2019-08-20. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
What Gillham Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Big water1,300 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 5.1 ft. Phosphorus 34 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 14.4 µg/L. TSI 55. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 5.1 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 34 µg/L | Poor |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 14.4 µg/L | Poor |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 55 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 1,300 acres |
No bathymetric survey has been published for Gillham Lake, so its depth is not documented here.
Fishing Gillham Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 8 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.544 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -1.76 µg/L/yr | 8 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +1.03 µg/L/yr | 8 |
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Gillham Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Gillham Dam (completed 1975), built primarily for flood risk reduction on the Cossatot; concrete-type dam, 160 ft tall and 900 ft long.
- Surface area
- 1,300 ac
- Normal storage
- 33,100 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 221,800 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 271 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 AR01200 · Operator website
County Ranking
Ranked #2 of 2 lakes in Howard County
Nearby Lakes in Howard County
Frequently asked questions about Gillham Lake
Where is Gillham Lake?
- Gillham 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 Gillham Lake?
- Gillham Lake in Howard County, Arkansas has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 5.1 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 34 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 14.4 µg/L. Surface area: 1300 acres.
Is Gillham Lake safe to swim in?
- The D is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
Explore Gillham Lake across LakeQuality
22.2 mi away · recorded at 74°F
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
Arkansas's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
More Arkansas Lake Rankings
Other Grade D Lakes in Arkansas
Eutrophic Lakes in Arkansas
Where this data comes from
193 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_WQX193 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.