AGFC stops the slide at Lake Overcup

Oct. 6, 2021

Randy Zellers

Assistant Chief of Communications

MORRILTON — Contractors working with the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission will begin work this week at Lake Overcup to repair damage to the backside of the lake’s dam to protect its overall integrity.

“We don’t anticipate any need to draw the water down in the lake,” Matt Schroeder, district fisheries biologist at the AGFC’s Mayflower office, said. “But anglers and hunters may notice the heavy equipment working, so we wanted to let people know about the project.”

The damage to the dam was noticed in 2017, when AGFC noticed a slide during routine inspections. Through various tests conducted by engineering firms, it was determined that the dam was not facing imminent failure, but repairs would be needed to prevent further damage that could increase the complexity of the project.

The Commission at its July 22 meeting approved a budget increase of $500,000 from the agency’s Stability and Enhancement Fund to make necessary repairs that would prevent further erosion of the dam and protect Overcup Lake.

The dam has a history of slides dating back to 1987. While the clay foundation of the dam has not been compromised during any of these slides, it is likely that the nature of the soils used to cover the clay on the backside of the dam is responsible for the continued problems. Repairs have been made as new slides have formed, with the most recent repair being in 2015.

AGFC Director Austin Booth said the Lake Overcup repair is a prime example of the AGFC’s continued commitment to the sportsmen and sportswomen of Arkansas.

“Projects like what’s taking place at Lake Overcup are valued by hundreds of thousands of Arkansas anglers, whether you’re fishing from a boat, wading a trout stream or simply fishing from the bank,” Booth said. 

Lake Overcup is a 1,025-acre fishing lake that was impounded in 1963. It is located in Conway County about a mile north of Interstate 40 and the city of Morrilton. Repair work is scheduled to be complete by the end of 2021.