Lake Conway exceeds flood pool, closure of Arkansas highway expected

June 5, 2019

Randy Zellers

Assistant Chief of Communications

MAYFLOWER — The water level at Craig D. Campbell Lake Conway Reservoir has surpassed flood stage, and is continuing to rise one foot every 24 hours. Portions of Arkansas Highway 89 are expected to be blocked by floodwater by the end of the day. 

The lake is still expected to exceed 5 feet above normal pool by Friday, and additional rains may increase that total. 

Although the Arkansas River at Toad Suck appears to have crested at 285.4 feet June 4, it will continue to cause flooding at Lake Conway for the next several days. The river has backed into Palarm Creek, which normally receives runoff from the lake. The water has reached 4 feet above the top of the spillway and is flowing into the lake, pushing it past flood pool.

The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission drew the lake down one foot prior to the river flooding, but no more releases will be possible until the water level in the Arkansas River and Palarm Creek drop enough to allow flow from the lake to resume. 

There is still no way of knowing peak flood levels at this point, as this has never occurred in the history of the lake. However, the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission strongly recommend any homeowner who has experienced flooding around Lake Conway in the last decade to take precautions and prepare for floodwater. 

Although boating is still allowed on Lake Conway, extreme caution should be used, as the rising water may have pushed logs and other debris into existing boat lanes. The high water also may be hiding stumps and other submerged structures just under the surface, causing additional boating hazards. The AGFC asks people to be mindful of potential hazards and how boat wakes could impact adjacent property during high water. 

Updates related to the flood threat around Lake Conway will be provided as conditions change and new information becomes available. Questions related to Lake Conway’s water level should be directed to the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission’s Fisheries Office in Mayflower at 501-470-3309.