Lake Conway flood warning

June 3, 2019

Keith Stephens

Chief of Communications

MAYFLOWER – The National Weather Service in Little Rock has issued a Flood Warning for Lake Conway. The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission predicts Lake Conway will exceed the flood stage of 266 feet mean sea level (normal pool is 263 feet MSL) by June 5. The lake will continue rising after Wednesday, but the peak level is unknown at this time.

Property that has flooded around Lake Conway in the last 10 years is at the greatest risk of flooding this week. That includes property within six feet in elevation above the lake’s normal pool. Those living in close proximity to Lake Conway should take immediate action to protect themselves and their property from flood damage.

Even though the Arkansas River is expected to crest today and begin receding, water will still continue to rise in Palarm Creek for the next several days, pushing more water into Lake Conway. This flood is a lengthy event, with the threat of flooding around Lake Conway possibly extending beyond this week. 

Lake Conway’s water level is rising at a rate of one foot every thirty hours, and was close to 264.4 feet mean sea level, 1.4 feet above normal pool, at 9 a.m. this morning.

Central Arkansas could receive two to four inches of rain Wednesday through Saturday.  Rain runoff from this event cannot be evacuated from the lake because of downstream flooding and could drastically affect the lake’s water level.  

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.

Water flowing backward over gates at Lake Conway Dam (image taken June 3, 2019)