AGFC, CAW launch access improvements at Lake Maumelle, public meeting Oct. 21 

LITTLE ROCK — The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission and Central Arkansas Water have begun the first phase of a project to revitalize Westrock Landing on the south shore of Lake Maumelle in the next month, demolishing and replacing the existing boat ramps with improved concrete ramps, courtesy docks and a boat beaching area on the popular angling access.

According to Jeff Haun, project manager for the AGFC, the complex of boat ramps facing the main lake at Westrock Landing on Lake Maumelle are being completely removed and rebuilt to improve access for anglers who wish to fish this 8,900-acre reservoir that helps supply drinking water to the central Arkansas area. The landing will be outfitted with three ramps that will offer a total of four lanes to launch boats, and two 70-foot courtesy docks. The eastern portion of the cove where the boat ramps are located also will be enhanced to offer a beaching area for boats, making it more convenient for anglers to retrieve their trucks while remaining out of the line of traffic.

“The beaching area will be made of pea gravel that’s contained within a three-dimensional mesh material,” Haun said. “It will still provide erosion control and should be much better for beaching a boat hull than the riprap on the other side of the ramp.”

Haun says the work is a two-phase process, with the AGFC building the ramps, docks and beaching area and CAW coming back later to make improvements to the parking area and adding two new buildings on the property.

“We’re helping with the ramp, but CAW is doing the rest,” Haun said.

Ben Batten, deputy director for the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, says the project and continued partnership are some of the more exciting things he’s seen come to fruition during his career.

“Westrock is already a great tournament destination for our local anglers, but these improvements will make it even more efficient to launch and load boats during high traffic times,” Batten. “This is a project I’ve wanted to complete since 2009, when I started as a district fisheries biologist in central Arkansas and Lake Maumelle was one of the lakes I managed,” Batten said. “I’ve always had a special place in my heart for Lake Maumelle, and I hope this improvement helps more people enjoy this great fishery right next to Little Rock.”

Marine Fuel Tax funds are being used in the renovation. As part of the agreement, Central Arkansas Water and Westrock Landing have agreed to remove the boat launching fee at these ramps, making both of the launch sites (Westrock Landing and Sleepy Hollow Landing) free for public use.

“The fee really isn’t that much, but it’s another barrier we wanted to remove from people enjoying this lake that sits right down the road from Arkansas’s capital city,” Batten said.

According to Haun, the new concrete ramps will be poured on land and will require up to a month to cure before being pushed into place. Because of the downtime, the project was timed to take place during fall and winter, which traditionally have the lowest number of visitors to the lake.

The ramp and plans for the future will be one of many topics open for discussion at a public meeting hosted by CAW from 5:30-7 p.m., Oct. 21 at WestRock Landing Marina. According to a recent release from CAW, they have completed another season of hydrilla treatments, and repairs to the dam and Highway 10 Bridge abutment have been completed.

####

CUTLINES:

RAMP DEMOLITION
The AGFC has begun work on replacing the ramps at WestRock Landing on Lake Maumelle in central Arkansas. Photo courtesy Caroline Heuel.

PLANS
Construction plans call for four lanes of boat ramps, two 70-foot courtesy docks and an extensive pea-gravel containment area for boat beaching. AGFC image.