Posted on May 4, 2026
By Jay Townsend
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Little Rock District and the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission will begin lowering Blue Mountain Lake May 1 to support habitat improvement efforts for fish and waterfowl.
The lake will be lowered from elevation 384 feet to 374 feet over about three months. It is expected to reach the target elevation by July 25 and remain there until Nov. 1, before gradually returning to normal levels as rainfall allows.
This year’s drawdown follows an extremely dry winter and spring across the region. Although recent rains helped Blue Mountain refill in April and even enter flood storage, the lake’s management team remains mindful of the broader dry pattern. The team will continue to monitor inflows, weather trends and downstream conditions throughout the operation If conditions change in a way that could affect the lake’s water supply mission, the team may adjust the pace of the drawdown or postpone it.
Engineers and biologists on the team understand that managing the lake during a drawdown requires steady attention and a careful balance between habitat goals, flood risk management and long-term water availability.
The last drawdown at Blue Mountain occurred in 2012. Lowering the lake consolidates fish into deeper water, improving angling success while exposing lakebed areas to sunlight promotes vegetation growth. When the lake refills, that vegetation strengthens habitat for fish and waterfowl.
USACE will also use the lower water levels to perform maintenance on the swim beach, boat ramps and buoys. The beach will be closed during this work. Boaters may access the lake only through a temporary ramp at Ashley Creek Park. Water skiing, tubing and personal watercraft use will be prohibited during the drawdown.
Boaters are encouraged to wear a life jacket and use caution due to shallow water and submerged hazards.
For more information, contact the Nimrod/Blue Mountain Site Office at 479‑272‑4324. Blue Mountain Lake water levels can be monitored by using the USACE Little Rock app found in app stores or by visiting the USACE Little Rock Water Management and Control Website.
