Lake Wilson
Washington County, Arkansas190 acresView mapDirections
Nutrients and algae run above the regional average.
↓ down from B at the last regrade
- Eutrophic
- #4 of 6 in the county
Lake Wilson in Washington County, Arkansas has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Phosphorus: 20 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 7.4 µg/L. Surface area: 190.2 acres.
- Area
- 190 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Phosphorus
- 20 µg/L
- Chlorophyll-a
- 7.4 µg/L
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
Stays via Stay22
Stays near Lake Wilson
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Lake Wilson 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 Wilson are listed below.
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Watch Lake Wilson’s letter
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Lake Wilson is a 190-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Washington County, Arkansas. Water quality is graded D based on 3 sampling years through 2023. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. Compared to the 5 other monitored lakes in Washington County, Lake Wilson ranks #4 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, ADEQ, last sampled 2023-02-07. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
Swimming Safety
Grade onlyElevated nutrients
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 20 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 7.4 µg/L. TSI 49. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | No recent samples | |
| Phosphorus | 20 µg/L | Fair |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 7.4 µg/L | Fair |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 49 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 190 acres |
No bathymetric survey has been published for Lake Wilson, so its depth is not documented here.
Fishing Lake Wilson
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 10 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.076 m/yr | 5 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +0.49 µg/L/yr | 6 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +0.62 µg/L/yr | 7 |
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Lake Wilson is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Wilson Lake Dam (completed 1941), built primarily for recreation on the White River-Tr; earth-type dam, 49 ft tall and 640 ft long.
- Surface area
- 190.2 ac
- Normal storage
- 317.5 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 512.2 ac-ft
- Hazard class
- Significant
- Owner
- City of Fayetteville
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID AR00285 · Operator website
County Ranking
Ranked #4 of 6 lakes in Washington County
Nearby Lakes in Washington County
Frequently asked questions about Lake Wilson
Where is Lake Wilson?
- Lake Wilson 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 Wilson?
- Lake Wilson in Washington County, Arkansas has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Phosphorus: 20 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 7.4 µg/L. Surface area: 190.2 acres.
Is Lake Wilson safe to swim in?
- The D is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
Explore Lake Wilson across LakeQuality
More Arkansas Lake Rankings
Other Grade D Lakes in Arkansas
Eutrophic Lakes in Arkansas
Where this data comes from
75 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_WQX75 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.