Horsehead Lake
Johnson County, Arkansas111 acresView mapDirections
Nutrients and algae run above the regional average.
↓ down from C at the last regrade
- Eutrophic
- Impaired · pH / acidity
- #1 of 1 in the county
Horsehead Lake in Johnson County, Arkansas has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Phosphorus: 30 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 13.5 µg/L. Surface area: 111 acres.
- Area
- 111 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Phosphorus
- 30 µg/L
- Chlorophyll-a
- 13.5 µg/L
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
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Stays near Horsehead Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Horsehead Lake in Johnson 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 Horsehead Lake are listed below.
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Watch Horsehead Lake’s letter
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Horsehead Lake is a 111-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Johnson County, Arkansas. Water quality is graded D based on 3 sampling years through 2023. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, ADEQ, last sampled 2023-02-07. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
Swimming Safety
Grade onlyElevated nutrients
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. Horsehead Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for pH / acidity. Check local advisories before you swim.
Water Quality Grade: D (Nutrient-rich)
No clarity data. Phosphorus 30 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 13.5 µg/L. TSI 55. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | No recent samples | |
| Phosphorus | 30 µg/L | Fair |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 13.5 µg/L | Poor |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 55 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 111 acres |
No bathymetric survey has been published for Horsehead Lake, so its depth is not documented here.
Fishing Horsehead Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phosphorus | → Stable | -0.26 µg/L/yr | 6 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +0.62 µg/L/yr | 6 |
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Horsehead Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Horsehead Lake Dam (completed 1950), built primarily for recreation on the Horsehead Creek; earth-type dam, 67 ft tall and 350 ft long.
- Surface area
- 111 ac
- Normal storage
- 3,663 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 4,913 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 16.9 sq mi
- Hazard class
- High
- Owner
- Arkansas Game and Fish Commission
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID AR00441 · Operator website
EPA Impairment Status
Horsehead Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2022 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).
Causes of impairment
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit AR_11110202_4050 · Official waterbody report
County Ranking
Ranked #1 of 1 lakes in Johnson County
Nearby Lakes in Johnson County
Frequently asked questions about Horsehead Lake
Where is Horsehead Lake?
- Horsehead Lake is a lake in Johnson County, Arkansas. LakeQuality grades it D for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Horsehead Lake?
- Horsehead Lake in Johnson County, Arkansas has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Phosphorus: 30 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 13.5 µg/L. Surface area: 111 acres.
Is Horsehead Lake safe to swim in?
- The D is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Horsehead Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for pH / acidity. Check local advisories before you swim.
Explore Horsehead Lake across LakeQuality
22.9 mi away · 37 ft
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
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Where this data comes from
69 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2012–2023. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality
ARDEQH2O_WQX69 samples · 2012–2023
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
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database