Lake Conway
Water Level Management
11/23/2009--Lake Conway Winter Drawdown (Public Service Announcement)
The AGFC has lowered the water level in Lake Conway by 1 foot in accordance with its water-management policy implemented in 1977. The lake is drawn down annually from Nov. 15-March 15 to allow for flood water storage during the spring.
The AGFC understands the drawdown brings a burden to some lakefront property owners who have trouble accessing their piers and boathouses during the low water and understands that this problem has increased because of sedimentation in the lake. However, the AGFC is working with the LCAG (Lake Conway Advocacy Group) on the renovation of Grassy Lake Road, below the dam, and a watershed assessment, which will include possible alternative designs to the spillway that could allow AGFC to hold the lake at normal pool (263 ft. MSL) all year and better alleviate floodwater.
If you have any questions about water level management on Lake Conway, contact Matt Horton, Lake Manager for District 10 at (501) 470-3309 ext. 212.
FTN Hydrology Study on Lake Conway 03-20-2002 1.86mb 
Thomas J. Fricke - Lake Conway Water Level Management Report 619kb
Management Plan
Lake Conway Management Plan (October 2003) 486kb
Water Quality
TMDL of Water Quality Impairments to Stone Dam Creek 414kb
Water Quality Study of Lake Conway (November 1998) 555kb
Data Summary of Special Water Quality Sampling on Lake Conway (September 2001) 621kb
Maps
Hi Res 10.04mb Low Res 740kb
FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions Regarding Lakes Conway, Harris Brake and Overcup
Q. What can I do to get rid of the aquatic vegetation in front of my lot?
A. You can get a permit to treat aquatic vegetation in the water adjacent to your lot. You can get the permit by contacting the Lake Manager, Matt Horton at (501) 470-3309 Ext. 212. The permit will show what chemicals you can use and is good for one year from the day it is approved.
Q. What should I do if I want to build a pier or boat house?
A. You need to contact the Lake Manager, and he will send you a permit application that must be fill out completely and approved before you can start construction. The permit costs $10 per structure and there is a one time fee of $25 for the placard you must attach to your structure (if you need 2 placards it only costs $25). You are only allowed 1 pier and 1 boathouse or boat slide per lot. You are also allowed to irrigate from the lake, and it does not cost anything if your pump is located on a pier or boathouse.
Q. The shoreline in front of my lot is eroding! What can I do?
A. You will need to get a permit to do any type of shoreline work. The permit can be attained by contacting the Lake Manager, and he will give you a permit application to fill out. He will also need to make a site visit to see and discuss what you intend to do. The permit does not cost anything. In addition to the AGFC permit you may be required to get a 404 permit from the USACE for the placement of fill materials below the normal high water mark of the lake.
Q. How do I know where the Game and Fish boundary line is around the lake?
A. The Game and Fish owns a “buffer strip” of land around all AGFC lakes. The width varies between lakes, but can be from 20 to 100+ feet in width. A list of lakes and their respective buffer strips can be found in section 9.0 of the Polices on Land Use Around AGFC Lakes. This policy is available on the AGFC website under Regulations on the home page, or contact your District Fisheries Biologist or Lake Manager for a copy.
Q. What are the different kinds of vegetation in the lake?
A. There are several species of aquatic vegetation that inhabit lakes. There is only a few that most people notice because they are more prevalent. For example, the main species of aquatic vegetation in Lake Conway are water lilies (spatterdock and fragrant water lily), alligatorweed, water pennywort, water primrose, cattails, duck weed, various species of rush, and giant cutgrass. The most problematic species are alligatorweed, pennywort, and spatterdock. The types of aquatic vegetation found in lakes depends largely on the morphology (physical characteristics) of the lake, geographic location, and water quality.
Q. When do you stock the lake?
A. Lake Conway is generally stocked every year. We have a crop rotation from year to year of crappie, channel catfish, blue catfish, bluegill and Florida largemouth bass. Lakes Harris Brake and Overcup are stocked on an annual basis with channel catfish and crappie. Largemouth bass are not stocked unless sampling data indicates stocking is needed. Redear sunfish are stocked in Harris Brake Lake when sampling data indicates stocking is needed.
Q. How do I find out what I can or can’t do on the Game and Fish buffers strip around the lake?
A. You can contact the Lake Manager, District Fisheries Biologist or go to the AGFC website to attain a copy of the AGFC Land Use Policy. It lists all activities, allowed or prohibited, on Game and Fish land surrounding lakes, in addition to permitting information.
Q. Can we put fish attractors in the lake?
A. We encourage anyone to put fish attractors in our lakes. You may place fish attractors in the lakes anytime and it does not require a permit. You are allowed to place structures in the lake made of wood, such as brush, Christmas trees, and wooden pallets. You are not allowed to put anything metal or rubber into the lake such as rebar or old tires. You may put PVC in the lake as long as it is constructed properly (PVC pipes in a bucket of concrete as a fish attractor). We do not want anything that resembles trash in the lake. Do not place fish attractors in the lake in a way that would create a boating hazard or block access to the lake, such as in boat trails or in front of public boat ramps.
Q. Does the Game and Fish stock private ponds?
A. The game and fish no longer stocks private ponds, but we do have a list of fish producers that we can send out for people to order fish for their ponds.
Q. Am I allowed to remove a tree that falls or is in danger of falling on the Game and Fish property around the lake?
A. You are allowed to remove dead timber from Game and Fish property adjacent to your lot, but if the tree is in danger of falling or you believe it is rotten and want it removed you must first contact the Lake Manager or District Fisheries Biologist to get permission. The AGFC employee will need to inspect the tree before permission is granted to remove it. Refer to sections 5.2 and 5.3 of the AGFC Land Use Policy for more details.
Q. How does the AGFC manage the water levels for these lakes?
A. Lakes Overcup and Harris Brake have a earthen or concrete spillway that allows lake water to discharge from the lake when the water level goes over the normal pool elevation of the lake. Both lakes have a water control structure that can be opened to lower the lake below normal pool elevation if needed. Lake Conway is different from the other two lakes in that it has a gated spillway with 15 spillway gates that are manually operated to control the water level. The spillway gates are operated in accordance to a Water Level Management Plan. The Lake Manager is responsible for the operation of the spillway gates. For more information on the water level management of Lake Conway contact the District 10 Lake Manager.
Matt Horton
AGFC
Lake Manager, Dist. 10
(501) 470-3309 ext. 212