Harris Break Lake
Perry County, Arkansas1,240 acresView mapDirections
Nutrients and algae run well above the regional average.
↓ down from D at the last regrade
- Hypereutrophic
- #1 of 1 in the county
- 41 ft max depth
- Public access
- Limited data
Harris Break Lake in Perry County, Arkansas has a water quality grade of F (Algae-prone). Phosphorus: 40 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 31.5 µg/L. Surface area: 1240 acres.
- Max depth
- ~41 ft est.
- Area
- 1,240 acres
- Type
- Hypereutrophic
- Phosphorus
- 40 µg/L
- Chlorophyll-a
- 31.5 µg/L
- Trend
- → Stable
- Public access
- Yes
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Stays near Harris Break Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Harris Break Lake in Perry 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 Harris Break Lake are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Harris Break Lake
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Watch Harris Break Lake’s letter
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Harris Break Lake is a 1,240-acre highly nutrient-loaded hypereutrophic lake in Perry County, Arkansas with an estimated average depth of about 41 feet. Water quality is graded F based on 3 sampling years through 2023. Phosphorus level is declining over recent sampling years. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available with 3 public boat landings.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, ADEQ, last sampled 2023-03-28. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
What Harris Break Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Boat launch3 documented ramps
- Big water1,240 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 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 31.5 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 | Poor |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 31.5 µg/L | Poor |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 61 | Hypereutrophic |
Very high nutrients, dense algae, poor clarity
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | ~41 ft est. |
| Average Depth | ~15 ft est. |
| Surface Area | 1,240 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 Harris Break 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
- ChittanPublic
- Vuris LandingPublic
- Harris Brake Lake ResortSemi-private
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Fishing Harris Break Lake
Water Quality Trend: → Stable
Based on 3 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +2.5 µg/L/yr | 3 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -7.3 µg/L/yr | 3 |
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Harris Break Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Harris Brake Dam (completed 1954), built primarily for recreation on the Coffee Creek; earth-type dam, 25 ft tall and 3,200 ft long.
- Surface area
- 1,240 ac
- Normal storage
- 8,267 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 16,576 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 10.6 sq mi
- Hazard class
- High
- Owner
- Arkansas Game and Fish Commission
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID AR00833 · Operator website · Matched by proximity (0.51 km)
County Ranking
Ranked #1 of 1 lakes in Perry County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Harris Break Lake holds Grade F. One nearby lake has a higher nutrient-and-algae grade — useful for a swim day, not a reason to skip lodging here.
Nearby Lakes in Perry County
Frequently asked questions about Harris Break Lake
Where is Harris Break Lake?
- Harris Break Lake is a lake in Perry County, Arkansas. LakeQuality grades it F for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Harris Break Lake?
- Harris Break Lake in Perry County, Arkansas has a water quality grade of F (Algae-prone). Phosphorus: 40 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 31.5 µg/L. Surface area: 1240 acres.
Is Harris Break Lake safe to swim in?
- The F is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
How deep is Harris Break Lake?
- No published bathymetric survey covers Harris Break Lake, so its depth has not been measured. The HydroLAKES global model estimates an average depth of about 41 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 1240 acres.
Are there boat ramps on Harris Break Lake?
- Harris Break Lake has 3 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Chittan, Vuris Landing, Harris Brake Lake Resort. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Harris Break Lake across LakeQuality
13.2 mi away · 95 ft
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
Arkansas's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
Planning a trip around Hot Springs?
Harris Break Lake is about 36 miles from Hot Springs National Park. Crowds there swing hard by season, so the month you pick changes both how busy the park is and what lodging costs.
Best time to visit Hot Springs →More Arkansas Lake Rankings
Other Grade F Lakes in Arkansas
Hypereutrophic Lakes in Arkansas
Where this data comes from
40 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2019–2023. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality
ARDEQH2O_WQX40 samples · 2019–2023
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