Lake Hamilton
Garland County, Arkansas6,897 acresView mapDirections
Nutrients and algae sit mid-range for this region.
↓ down from B at the last regrade
- Eutrophic
- #1 of 4 in the county
- Limited data
Lake Hamilton in Garland County, Arkansas has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 11.9 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 20 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 7.4 µg/L. Surface area: 6897 acres.
- Clarity
- 11.9 ft
- Area
- 6,897 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Phosphorus
- 20 µg/L
- Chlorophyll-a
- 7.4 µg/L
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Watch Lake Hamilton’s letter
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Lake Hamilton is a 6,897-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Garland County, Arkansas. Water quality is graded C based on 2 sampling years through 2019. Public access is available with 2 public boat landings. Compared to the 3 other monitored lakes in Garland County, Lake Hamilton ranks #1 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, ADEQ, last sampled 2019-08-06. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
What Lake Hamilton is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Clear water11.9 ft of visibility
- Boat launch2 documented ramps
- Big water6,897 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 C is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
Water Quality Grade: C (Fair)
Good clarity, visible to about 11.9 ft. Phosphorus 20 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 7.4 µg/L. TSI 46. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 11.9 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 20 µg/L | Fair |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 7.4 µg/L | Fair |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 46 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 6,897 acres |
No bathymetric survey has been published for Lake Hamilton, so its depth is not documented here.
Recreation & Access
- DoubletreeSemi-private
- Fisherman's WharfSemi-private
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Fishing Lake Hamilton
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Lake Hamilton is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Carpenter (completed 1932), built primarily for hydroelectric on the Ouachita River; gravity-type dam, 110 ft tall and 1,165 ft long.
- Surface area
- 6,897 ac
- Normal storage
- 183,160 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 235,500 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 1,441 sq mi
- Hazard class
- High
- Owner
- Entergy Arkansas, Inc.
All listed purposes: Hydroelectric;Fish and Wildlife Pond;Recreation;Water Supply.
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID AR00534 · Operator website
County Ranking
Ranked #1 of 4 lakes in Garland County
Nearby Lakes in Garland County
Frequently asked questions about Lake Hamilton
Where is Lake Hamilton?
- Lake Hamilton is a lake in Garland County, Arkansas. LakeQuality grades it C for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Lake Hamilton?
- Lake Hamilton in Garland County, Arkansas has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 11.9 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 20 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 7.4 µg/L. Surface area: 6897 acres.
Is Lake Hamilton safe to swim in?
- The C is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
Are there boat ramps on Lake Hamilton?
- Lake Hamilton has 2 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Doubletree, Fisherman's Wharf.
Explore Lake Hamilton across LakeQuality
Depth, room, public access, and the state wake-sport rules
2 thermal springs within 6.9 mi, nearest Hot Springs
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
Planning a trip around Hot Springs?
Lake Hamilton is about 5 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 C Lakes in Arkansas
Eutrophic Lakes in Arkansas
Where this data comes from
171 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_WQX171 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.
Other records on this page
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory