Lake Ouachita
Garland County, Arkansas40,100 acresView mapDirections
Nutrients and algae sit mid-range for this region.
↓ down from A at the last regrade
- Mesotrophic
- #3 of 4 in the county
- Public access
- Limited data
Lake Ouachita in Garland County, Arkansas has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 15 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 20 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 3.2 µg/L. Surface area: 40100 acres.
- Clarity
- 15 ft
- Area
- 40,100 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Phosphorus
- 20 µg/L
- Chlorophyll-a
- 3.2 µg/L
- Trend
- → Stable
- Public access
- Yes
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Watch Lake Ouachita’s letter
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Lake Ouachita is a 40,100-acre mesotrophic lake in Garland County, Arkansas. Water quality is graded C based on 2 sampling years through 2019. Water clarity is declining over recent sampling years. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available with 9 public boat landings. Compared to the 3 other monitored lakes in Garland County, Lake Ouachita ranks #3 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, ADEQ, last sampled 2019-08-05. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
What Lake Ouachita is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Clear water15 ft of visibility
- Boat launch9 documented ramps
- Big water40,100 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)
Crystal clear, you can see 15 ft down. Phosphorus 20 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 3.2 µg/L. TSI 43. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 15 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 20 µg/L | Fair |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 3.2 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 43 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 40,100 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
No bathymetric survey has been published for Lake Ouachita, so its depth is not documented here.
Recreation & Access
- Cedar Fourche LandingPublic
- Lena Area CovePublic
- Lake Ouachita State Park MarinaPublic
- Blakely DamPublic
- Blakeley Mountain Dam TailwatersPublic
- Lena - Navy Landing CoveSemi-private
Showing 6 of 9 documented landings from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory.
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Fishing Lake Ouachita
Water Quality Trend: → Stable
Based on 7 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -2.08 m/yr | 4 |
| Phosphorus | → Stable | 0 µg/L/yr | 6 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -0.09 µg/L/yr | 7 |
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Lake Ouachita is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Blakely Mountain Dam (completed 1953), built primarily for flood risk reduction on the Ouachita River; earth-type dam, 240 ft tall and 1,100 ft long.
- Surface area
- 40,100 ac
- Normal storage
- 2,151,100 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 3,760,700 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 1,105 sq mi
- Hazard class
- High
- Owner
- USACE - Vicksburg District
All listed purposes: Flood Risk Reduction;Recreation;Hydroelectric;Water Supply.
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID AR00150 · Operator website
County Ranking
Ranked #3 of 4 lakes in Garland County
Nearby Lakes in Garland County
Frequently asked questions about Lake Ouachita
Where is Lake Ouachita?
- Lake Ouachita 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 Ouachita?
- Lake Ouachita in Garland County, Arkansas has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 15 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 20 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 3.2 µg/L. Surface area: 40100 acres.
Is Lake Ouachita 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 Ouachita?
- Lake Ouachita has 9 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Cedar Fourche Landing, Lena Area Cove, Lake Ouachita State Park Marina, Blakely Dam, among others. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Lake Ouachita across LakeQuality
Depth, room, public access, and the state wake-sport rules
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Arkansas's top lakes, each with its grade
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Arkansas's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
Planning a trip around Hot Springs?
Lake Ouachita is about 9 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
Mesotrophic Lakes in Arkansas
Where this data comes from
115 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2012–2019. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality
ARDEQH2O_WQX115 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 (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