Arkansas

144 readers

1 users here now

Arkansas?

founded 2 years ago

MODERATORS

clif

AGFC : Lake Conway to be drained as part of revival effort (www.nwaonline.com)

submitted 2 years ago by clif to c/arkansas

4 comments fedilink hide all child comments

On Wednesday, the Commission approved an ambitious plan to transform Lake Conway into a showcase that will provide high quality fishing opportunities not only for Conway and Mayflower, but for all of Central Arkansas.

Ben Batten, deputy director for the Game and Fish Commission, said that the plan will increase water volume in the lake from 28-46%. The average depth will increase by 1.5%, and as much as 3 feet in some areas. This will restore its water storage capacity to its 1975 level, Batten said.

As at Lake Poinsett, the commission will drain Lake Conway for 18-24 months. Exposing the lake bottom to the atmosphere and to direct sunlight will bake the soil and cause it to settle and compact. It will remain hard when the lake refills. This hard bottom will serve as fish spawning habitat.

Also, the commission will improve boat lanes by removing stumps.

Additionally, the commission will install artificial fish structures and natural brush piles. Batten said that the agency will install about 3,500 structures. That translates to a one structure every two acres. The AGFC will also install pea gravel spawning beds and stake beds. It will also plant cypress trees.

top 4 comments

sorted by: hot top controversial new old

[–] Spacebar 2 points 2 years ago (1 children)

How did the lake get the way it currently is? Is it a man-made lake with no natural outlet?

[–] clif 1 points 2 years ago (1 children)

Yes, it is a man made lake created and managed by the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission (AGFC). It's dammed on the southern side. The outflow from the dam forms Palarm Creek, feeds Grassy Lake (at certain times of the year for waterfowl habitat), and continues on to where it joins the Arkansas River at Palarm, Arkansas.

I suppose "the outflow from the dam forms Palarm Creek" isn't exactly correct, since Palarm Creek was there before they dammed it to create the lake :)

There's a bit more information on the AGFC page here : https://www.agfc.com/en/zone-map/fishing-map/579/

Lake Conway is the largest Game and Fish Commission lake and the largest lake ever constructed by a state wildlife agency. Because of its large size, central location and excellent fishing, it has been one of the state's favored fishing spots since it was built on Palarm Creek in 1948. Lake Conway was the first lake constructed by the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission.

[–] Spacebar 1 points 2 years ago (1 children)

I see. Since it is man made, it has to be maintained differently than a natural lake.

I'm so glad they're doing this. The process and what happens as a result is so cool. I'm glad to know about it.

[–] clif 1 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago)

For sure, it's going to make some local people very angry for ~2 years while the lake is empty but it should make things better in the long run. Plus we get to see what Palarm Creek is like without it being dammed... should be interesting. I used to kayak Palarm Creek, starting at the dam to the Arkansas river, when it was at flood stage and I'm super curious to see what it's like without the dam. I'm assuming they're going to just let the creek channel as it wants and leave the dam open. It was insane to float through an area that is normally a small creek maybe ~1m deep (because of the dam) when it's flooded hundred of hectares and you can just paddle around through a forest.