Lake Charles
Lawrence County, Arkansas562 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
- Public access
Lake Charles in Lawrence County, Arkansas has a water quality grade of F (Algae-prone). Phosphorus: 69.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 40.9 µg/L. Surface area: 562 acres.
- Area
- 562 acres
- Type
- Hypereutrophic
- Phosphorus
- 69.5 µg/L
- Chlorophyll-a
- 40.9 µg/L
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- Yes
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Stays near Lake Charles
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Lake Charles in Lawrence 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 Lake Charles are listed below.
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Watch Lake Charles’s letter
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Lake Charles is a 562-acre highly nutrient-loaded hypereutrophic lake in Lawrence County, Arkansas. Water quality is graded F based on 3 sampling years through 2023. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available with 2 public boat landings.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, ADEQ, last sampled 2023-03-07. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
What Lake Charles is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Boat launch2 documented ramps
Swimming Safety
Grade onlyAlgae risk
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 69.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 40.9 µg/L. TSI 66. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | No recent samples | |
| Phosphorus | 69.5 µg/L | Poor |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 40.9 µg/L | Poor |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 66 | Hypereutrophic |
Very high nutrients, dense algae, poor clarity
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 562 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
No bathymetric survey has been published for Lake Charles, so its depth is not documented here.
Recreation & Access
- Lake Charles State Park (South 1)Public
- Lake Charles State Park (South 2)Public
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Fishing Lake Charles
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 7 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +4.49 µg/L/yr | 7 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +6.69 µg/L/yr | 7 |
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Lake Charles is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Flat Creek Ag&F Site 3 (completed 1962), built primarily for flood risk reduction on the Flat Creek; earth-type dam, 46 ft tall and 1,813 ft long.
- Surface area
- 562 ac
- Normal storage
- 6,440 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 16,857 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 15.5 sq mi
- Hazard class
- Significant
- Owner
- Arkansas Game and Fish Commission
All listed purposes: Flood Risk Reduction;Recreation.
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID AR00378 · Operator website · Matched by proximity (0.36 km)
County Ranking
Ranked #1 of 1 lakes in Lawrence County
Nearby Lakes in Lawrence County
Frequently asked questions about Lake Charles
Where is Lake Charles?
- Lake Charles is a lake in Lawrence County, Arkansas. LakeQuality grades it F for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Lake Charles?
- Lake Charles in Lawrence County, Arkansas has a water quality grade of F (Algae-prone). Phosphorus: 69.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 40.9 µg/L. Surface area: 562 acres.
Is Lake Charles safe to swim in?
- The F is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
Are there boat ramps on Lake Charles?
- Lake Charles has 2 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Lake Charles State Park (South 1), Lake Charles State Park (South 2). Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Lake Charles across LakeQuality
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
More Arkansas Lake Rankings
Other Grade F Lakes in Arkansas
Hypereutrophic Lakes in Arkansas
Where this data comes from
73 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_WQX73 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
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory