Beaver Lake is an 11,500 hectare (28,000 acre) lake located on the upper White River in Northwest Arkansas. The lake functions as a source of flood control, recreational activity, hydroelectric power generation and is used as a source water drinking supply for over 500,000 people including the surrounding cities of Fayetteville, Springdale, Lowell, Bentonville, Eureka Springs, Harrison and Rogers. Studies by the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers indicate that 4.2 million people utilize the recreational facilities on Beaver Lake annually for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, skiing and camping. Using figures from the Rogers Chamber of Commerce, these activities generate approximately $128 million in local revenue and help support the local economy of Northwest Arkansas. Beaver Lake has a variety of habitats, including 450 miles of shoreline.
Shoreline habitat varies from shallow sloping mud flats, moderately sloping gravel and cobble banks, to sheer vertical limestone and sandstone cliffs with large rockslides. Historically, standing timber was abundant in some coves, but is now deteriorating as the lake ages. The fertility of Beaver Lake varies from being extremely fertile in the upper reaches of the tributary arms to being relatively infertile in the lower areas around the dam. This fertility gradient is a function of the high retention time (1.5 year’s average) of water in the reservoir working in combination with varying inflows of nutrients and sediment into the reservoir.
Beaver Lake is an aging reservoir, it is over 53 years old and fish habitat is degrading over time. Increased siltation, excessive nutrients, and lack of littoral structure are priority impairments identified in the Southern Appalachians region. According to the Beaver Lake Watershed Protection Strategy future annual sediment loading is estimated to increase 21 percent or almost 50,000 tons per year. Without additional protective measures, stream channel erosion is estimated to contribute most (approximately 60 percent) of the sediment load to Beaver Lake. By 2055, the total phosphorus in the lake is expected to increase by approximately 24,000 pounds per year. As with sediment, the Beaver Lake and War Eagle Creek subwatersheds are predicted to be the largest sources of phosphorus to the lake. The War Eagle Creek subwatershed is predicted to deliver the largest nitrogen load under both existing and future scenarios (See Figures 3 and 4). War Eagle Creek is also listed by the Arkansas Division of Environmental Quality as an impaired stream due to increased siltation and nutrients. A Stream Channel and Riparian Stabilization Project will implement best management practices to achieve nutrient and sediment reductions, and will be installed along Clifty Creek, a tributary of War Eagle Creek, and within close proximity of Beaver Lake.
The goals of the Beaver Lake Cedar Tree Habitat Project will be to improve fish, wildlife and glade habitats on Beaver Lake, and Beaver Lake Wildlife Management Area (WMA) by removing invasive Eastern Red Cedar trees from several areas around the lake. Removal of the trees will correspond with a prescribed burn schedule to improve plant diversity and wildlife habitat. The trees will be placed in Beaver Lake to improve fish habitat around the lake. Habitat placement goals include 130 new fish habitat sites on Beaver Lake, thirty sites will be located close to public use areas to improve shoreline angling success and increase access to underserved community groups.
Project deliverables included:
1. 600 linear feet of streambank and stream channel restored along Big Clifty Creek.
2. Six acres of riparian buffer enhanced with Ozark native plants.
3. Local demonstration site for landowners to visit to learn more on stream restoration.
4. Improved water quality in Beaver Lake (that is used for drinking water for over 500,000 people).
5. Improved fish habitat in Beaver Lake with added 130 habitat sites.
6. Improved shoreline and weekend angler success by placement of 30 fish habitat structures close to public access areas and shoreline fishing locations and improved angler catch rates and satisfaction rates.
7. Evaluation and survey data on fish habitat improvements, including comparisons on fish use of new habitat structures vs. areas with no habitat, use of habitat structures by anglers, angler information on fishing the structures with a creel survey.
8. Increased education and awareness to over 20,000 stakeholders in the Beaver Lake watershed.
9. Improved wildlife habitat on Beaver Lake WMA by removing invasive cedar trees and incorporating a burn schedule in cooperation with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Hobbs State Park, the Natural Heritage Commission and Beaver Watershed Alliance. The cedar removal and prescribed burns will greatly improve native plant species and enhance wildlife populations, which will include white-tailed deer, quail, songbirds, and other native species.
10. Restored natural glades through invasive cedar tree removal, which will benefit native plant species.
11. Improved hunter success by clearing cedar trees and providing more suitable wildlife habitat.
12. Improved hunter, angler, and general public opinions of agencies and sponsors.
The population in northwest Arkansas is rapidly expanding putting additional stresses on both terrestrial and aquatic environments. Clean water is a priority to residents and maintaining a healthy water supply and high- quality recreational opportunities is a challenge under increasing urban pressures. This project addresses both water quality and recreational potential of Beaver Reservoir. Local interest in the project is evidenced by the number of partners involved in the project.
Project Timeline:
Start Date: Sept 1, 2021; End Date: December 2022.
Project Partners:
This project is a large cooperative endeavor that includes the Reservoir Fisheries Habitat Partnership, several agencies (Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, Beaver Watershed Alliance, Arkansas Natural Heritage Commission, Hobbs State Park, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Beaver Lake Office) and funding from the Fish America Foundation and Bass Pro Shops. In-kind labor and supplies from landowners, as well as numerous volunteer groups including hunting, fishing and nature clubs add to the diversity of partners.