AGFC public meeting to offer updates on Lake Conway renovation

MAYFLOWER — The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission will hold a public meeting at 7 p.m. June 26 at the Mayflower High School cafeteria to update interested stakeholders on the progress of the lake renovation project.

In the last month, contractors working with the AGFC have cleared more than 6 miles of the proposed 30-mile boat lane project.

“The contractor is grinding every stump within a 60-foot swath for the trails and is grinding as far down to the lakebed as possible,” AGFC Fisheries Supervisor Nick Feltz said. “They will be alternating between grinding and driving the large wooden lane markers into the lakebed as they continue, and we hope the grinding portion of the project is complete by winter. Final marking of the lanes may stretch into next summer, depending on weather conditions and how efficiently the grinding is completed.”

The AGFC has doubled down on delivering materials for spawning habitat to the lakebed with the use of helicopters.

“We managed to create more gravel spawning beds for sunfish species and concrete culverts for catfish spawning areas during the last week to combat the large amount of the lakebed with silty mud bottom,” Feltz said. “The gravel gives fish a hard surface to spawn in that holds their eggs instead of allowing them to sink into the muck and suffocate. This project is important to the continued productivity of the lake’s habitat.”

AGFC staff also will update attendees about the engineering and plans for the new spillway structure.

“The final plans and construction procedures had to wait for any recommended changes from the permitting process,” AGFC Construction Assistant Chief Reid Phifer said. “We can move forward with the dam contracting and should be able to give an update on the bid process for that portion of the project.”

AGFC Deputy Director Ben Batten said the renovation project is still well within the original timeline of 5 years from its announcement in 2023.

“We understand that sometimes large projects like this may look like they are at a standstill, but there are plenty of people and elements of the project working behind the scenes to complete the renovation,” Batten said. “As we move forward, we are committed to maintaining communication with the public through more public meetings as well as outreach through our social media and digital platforms.”

Visit www.agfc.com/lakeconway for more information about the project and a timeline of completed work.

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Contractors with the AGFC have cleared 6 miles of the proposed 30-mile boat lane network since receiving the permits from the Army Corps of Engineers in April. AGFC photo by Mike Wintroath.