Lake Leatherwood
Carroll County, Arkansas85 acresView mapDirections
Nutrients and algae sit mid-range for this region.
↓ down from B at the last regrade
- Mesotrophic
- #3 of 3 in the county
- Public access
Lake Leatherwood in Carroll County, Arkansas has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Phosphorus: 26 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 2.9 µg/L. Surface area: 85 acres.
- Area
- 85 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Phosphorus
- 26 µg/L
- Chlorophyll-a
- 2.9 µg/L
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- Yes
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Watch Lake Leatherwood’s letter
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Lake Leatherwood is a 85-acre mesotrophic lake in Carroll County, Arkansas. Water quality is graded C based on 2 sampling years through 2025. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 2 other monitored lakes in Carroll County, Lake Leatherwood ranks #3 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, ADEQ, last sampled 2025-03-25. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
What Lake Leatherwood is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Boat launch1 documented ramp
Swimming Safety
Grade onlyModerate
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)
No clarity data. Phosphorus 26 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 2.9 µg/L. TSI 46. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | No recent samples | |
| Phosphorus | 26 µg/L | Fair |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 2.9 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 46 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 85 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
No bathymetric survey has been published for Lake Leatherwood, so its depth is not documented here.
Recreation & Access
- Lake Leatherwood ParkPublic
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Fishing Lake Leatherwood
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phosphorus | → Stable | +0.25 µg/L/yr | 5 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -0.11 µg/L/yr | 6 |
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Lake Leatherwood is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Leatherwood (completed 1939), built primarily for recreation on the West Leatherwood Creek; other-type dam, 55 ft tall and 660 ft long.
- Surface area
- 85 ac
- Normal storage
- 800 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 1,680 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 13 sq mi
- Hazard class
- High
- Owner
- City of Eureka Springs
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID AR00238 · Operator website
County Ranking
Ranked #3 of 3 lakes in Carroll County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Lake Leatherwood holds Grade C. 2 nearby lakes hold higher nutrient-and-algae grades — useful for a swim day, not a reason to skip lodging here.
See full comparison →Nearby Lakes in Carroll County
Frequently asked questions about Lake Leatherwood
Where is Lake Leatherwood?
- Lake Leatherwood is a lake in Carroll 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 Leatherwood?
- Lake Leatherwood in Carroll County, Arkansas has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Phosphorus: 26 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 2.9 µg/L. Surface area: 85 acres.
Is Lake Leatherwood 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 Leatherwood?
- Lake Leatherwood has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Lake Leatherwood Park. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Lake Leatherwood across LakeQuality
More Arkansas Lake Rankings
Other Grade C Lakes in Arkansas
Mesotrophic Lakes in Arkansas
Where this data comes from
54 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2012–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality
ARDEQH2O_WQX54 samples · 2012–2025
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