Greers Ferry Lake
Encyclopedia
Greers Ferry Lake is the reservoir
formed by Greers Ferry Dam
, a United States Army Corps of Engineers
dam in Northern Arkansas. It is located about 60 miles (96.6 km) north of Little Rock
.
is an example. One road in particular near "Sandy Beach" in Heber Springs is a popular fireworks show in the area during July, can be reached by divers without equipment.
Carl Garner
, former Greers Ferry Lake Resident Engineer since 1959, started the Carl Garner Federal Lands Cleanup Day
in 1985.
The normal pool of Greers Ferry Lake is 461.3 feet above sea level. The lowest safe level of the lake with still being able to generate hydroelectric power is 435.0 feet. The lake has flooded various times. The lake crested at 483.95 feet in 1973. It crested above 485 feet in 1982. In April 2008, the lake topped the previous high from 1982. On April 11, 2008 the lake topped 486 feet, only a few feet away from many local houses.
has thrived around the lake, and the population
has topped 6,000 in Heber Springs
. Through the 1970s, many luxurious neighborhoods were built around the lake, and continue to be built. Various activities are available to the public: swimming, cliff diving, boating, fishing, scuba diving, camping, and other water recreational activities are popular among locals and tourists alike. Recently famous for rainbow trout
, the Little Red River, in the cool water coming from under the dam, has become a favorite fishing spot year round. Several camp grounds and boat docks/ramps offer direct access to the river.Also, houses, even small neighborhoods have been built around the Little Red River.
Reservoir
A reservoir , artificial lake or dam is used to store water.Reservoirs may be created in river valleys by the construction of a dam or may be built by excavation in the ground or by conventional construction techniques such as brickwork or cast concrete.The term reservoir may also be used to...
formed by Greers Ferry Dam
Greers Ferry Dam
Greers Ferry Dam is a dam on the Little Red River in Cleburne County in the U.S. state of Arkansas. It impounds Greers Ferry Lake. The dam is located north of Little Rock.-Building the dam:...
, a United States Army Corps of Engineers
United States Army Corps of Engineers
The United States Army Corps of Engineers is a federal agency and a major Army command made up of some 38,000 civilian and military personnel, making it the world's largest public engineering, design and construction management agency...
dam in Northern Arkansas. It is located about 60 miles (96.6 km) north of Little Rock
Little Rock, Arkansas
Little Rock is the capital and the largest city of the U.S. state of Arkansas. The Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 699,757 people in the 2010 census...
.
Geography
The reservoir consists of two lakes connected by a water-filled gorge called the Narrows. The area of the two lakes and the Narrows totals about 40500 acres (164 km²) with a combined shoreline of just over 340 miles. In the 1800s there was once a city, Higden, under this lake. The farmers in Higden had constant trouble with flooding. The land was purchased, residents left and the city was abandoned, the cemeteries were moved, and the area was allowed to flood. The town has since been re-established on a nearby hill. Many nearby residents and several eyewitness accounts tell that homes and buildings still stand under the water to this day, a watery ghost town. Several roads in town can be followed to the shore where they disappear under the water, and surface on the opposite side of the lake. Most of these roads are now used as launch ramps for boats. Old West Main Street in Heber SpringsHeber Springs, Arkansas
Heber Springs is a city in Cleburne County, Arkansas, United States. The population was 6,432 at the 2000 census. The city is the county seat of Cleburne County.-Geography:Heber Springs is located at ....
is an example. One road in particular near "Sandy Beach" in Heber Springs is a popular fireworks show in the area during July, can be reached by divers without equipment.
Carl Garner
Carl Garner
Carl Garner served as resident engineer of Greers Ferry Lake since its construction in 1959, and in that capacity, he organized a citizen cleanup of the area which expanded to Carl Garner Federal Lands Cleanup Day....
, former Greers Ferry Lake Resident Engineer since 1959, started the Carl Garner Federal Lands Cleanup Day
Carl Garner Federal Lands Cleanup Day
Carl Garner Federal Lands Cleanup Day is a day observed in the United States to encourage nationwide citizen participation in the cleanup of federal lands. It occurs on the first Saturday after Labor Day, and may include a variety of programs, ceremonies, and activities...
in 1985.
The normal pool of Greers Ferry Lake is 461.3 feet above sea level. The lowest safe level of the lake with still being able to generate hydroelectric power is 435.0 feet. The lake has flooded various times. The lake crested at 483.95 feet in 1973. It crested above 485 feet in 1982. In April 2008, the lake topped the previous high from 1982. On April 11, 2008 the lake topped 486 feet, only a few feet away from many local houses.
Recreational use
Since the formation of Greers Ferry Lake in the early 1960s, tourismTourism
Tourism is travel for recreational, leisure or business purposes. The World Tourism Organization defines tourists as people "traveling to and staying in places outside their usual environment for not more than one consecutive year for leisure, business and other purposes".Tourism has become a...
has thrived around the lake, and the population
Population
A population is all the organisms that both belong to the same group or species and live in the same geographical area. The area that is used to define a sexual population is such that inter-breeding is possible between any pair within the area and more probable than cross-breeding with individuals...
has topped 6,000 in Heber Springs
Heber Springs, Arkansas
Heber Springs is a city in Cleburne County, Arkansas, United States. The population was 6,432 at the 2000 census. The city is the county seat of Cleburne County.-Geography:Heber Springs is located at ....
. Through the 1970s, many luxurious neighborhoods were built around the lake, and continue to be built. Various activities are available to the public: swimming, cliff diving, boating, fishing, scuba diving, camping, and other water recreational activities are popular among locals and tourists alike. Recently famous for rainbow trout
Rainbow trout
The rainbow trout is a species of salmonid native to tributaries of the Pacific Ocean in Asia and North America. The steelhead is a sea run rainbow trout usually returning to freshwater to spawn after 2 to 3 years at sea. In other words, rainbow trout and steelhead trout are the same species....
, the Little Red River, in the cool water coming from under the dam, has become a favorite fishing spot year round. Several camp grounds and boat docks/ramps offer direct access to the river.Also, houses, even small neighborhoods have been built around the Little Red River.
See also
- Heber SpringsHeber Springs, ArkansasHeber Springs is a city in Cleburne County, Arkansas, United States. The population was 6,432 at the 2000 census. The city is the county seat of Cleburne County.-Geography:Heber Springs is located at ....
- Greers Ferry DamGreers Ferry DamGreers Ferry Dam is a dam on the Little Red River in Cleburne County in the U.S. state of Arkansas. It impounds Greers Ferry Lake. The dam is located north of Little Rock.-Building the dam:...
- HigdenHigden, ArkansasHigden is a town in Cleburne County, Arkansas, United States. The population was 101 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Higden is located at ....
, Arkansas - Cleburne County, Arkansas