Lake Elmdale
Washington County, ArkansasView mapDirections
Nutrients and algae run above the regional average.
↓ down from C at the last regrade
- Eutrophic
- #1 of 6 in the county
- 37 ft max depth
- Limited data
Lake Elmdale in Washington County, Arkansas has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Phosphorus: 36 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 24.1 µg/L.
- Max depth
- ~37 ft est.
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Phosphorus
- 36 µg/L
- Chlorophyll-a
- 24.1 µg/L
- Trend
- → Stable
Stays via Stay22
Stays near Lake Elmdale
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Lake Elmdale in Washington 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 Elmdale are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Lake Elmdale
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Watch Lake Elmdale’s letter
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Lake Elmdale is a productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Washington County, Arkansas with an estimated average depth of about 37 feet. Water quality is graded D based on 2 sampling years through 2026. Phosphorus level is improving over recent sampling years. Compared to the 5 other monitored lakes in Washington County, Lake Elmdale ranks #1 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, ADEQ, last sampled 2026-02-23. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
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)
No clarity data. Phosphorus 36 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 24.1 µg/L. TSI 59. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | No recent samples | |
| Phosphorus | 36 µg/L | Poor |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 24.1 µg/L | Poor |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 59 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | ~37 ft est. |
| Average Depth | ~12 ft est. |
Depth marked “est.” is a modeled maximum from GLOBathy (Khazaei et al. 2022, CC0), not a measured survey. Arkansas has not published bathymetry for Lake Elmdale.
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.
Fishing Lake Elmdale
Water Quality Trend: → Stable
Based on 4 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -2.55 µg/L/yr | 2 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +0.82 µg/L/yr | 4 |
County Ranking
Ranked #1 of 6 lakes in Washington County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Lake Elmdale holds Grade D. 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 Washington County
Frequently asked questions about Lake Elmdale
Where is Lake Elmdale?
- Lake Elmdale is a lake in Washington County, Arkansas. LakeQuality grades it D for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Lake Elmdale?
- Lake Elmdale in Washington County, Arkansas has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Phosphorus: 36 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 24.1 µg/L.
Is Lake Elmdale safe to swim in?
- The D is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
How deep is Lake Elmdale?
- No published bathymetric survey covers Lake Elmdale, so its depth has not been measured. The HydroLAKES global model estimates an average depth of about 37 feet, but that is a modelled estimate derived from surrounding terrain rather than a measurement on the water, so treat it as approximate.
Explore Lake Elmdale across LakeQuality
More Arkansas Lake Rankings
Other Grade D Lakes in Arkansas
Eutrophic Lakes in Arkansas
Where this data comes from
36 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2012–2026. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality
ARDEQH2O_WQX36 samples · 2012–2026
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)