Little Rock District - Norfork Lake

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Little Rock District


Click Recreation.gov to make reservations or call toll free 1-877-444-6777 Mountain Home Project Office 324 W. 7th Street Mountain Home, AR 72653 (870) 425-2700



	SWL Home > Recreation > Norfork Lake > Current Happenings Current Happenings Thank you for visiting the Norfork Lake Current Happenings Page. Check back periodically for postings on Corps of Engineers special events, and current issues on Norfork Lake and in the surrounding area. Quarry Park Boat Ramp Reopens Ahead Of Schedule MOUNTAIN HOME, Ark., Sept.25 -- The Quarry Park boat ramp downstream of Norfork Dam on the North Fork River has reopened ahead of schedule. The ramp, which is operated by the Army Corps of Engineers, had been closed since Monday to allow contractors and heavy equipment to remove a damaged pedestrian bridge on Dry Run Creek. More Quarry Park Boat Ramp To Temporarily Close MOUNTAIN HOME, Ark., Sept.19 -- The Quarry Park boat ramp downstream of Norfork Dam on the North Fork River will close for about a week beginning Monday, Sept. 22. The ramp, which is operated by the Army Corps of Engineers, is being closed to allow contractors and heavy equipment to remove a damaged pedestrian bridge. More White River Dams Continue To Reduce Flooding; No Large Releases Needed LITTLE ROCK, Ark., Sept. 4 – As remnants of Gustav finally move out of the White River Basin, officials of the Army Corps of Engineers continue to operate the federal lakes according to plan to minimize flooding in the White River valley. Also, officials say no large releases from the Corps dams will be necessary because of this rain system. More White River Dams Help Limit Crop Flooding; Those Downstream of the Dams Should Remain on Guard LITTLE ROCK, Ark., Sept. 3 – As rains continue to soak the White River Basin, officials of the Army Corps of Engineers are hard at work using federal lakes to minimize flooding of cropland in the White River valley. Meanwhile, officials continue to urge those living near the rivers downstream of these dams to remain on guard should large releases become necessary. More Rain Could Cause Higher Than Normal Releases From White River Dams LITTLE ROCK, Ark., Sep. 3 – Tropical depression Gustav has moved into Arkansas and southern Missouri. Heavy rain has begun and is forecast to continue most of the week. Depending how much and where rain actually falls, the Army Corps of Engineers could be prompted to make larger than normal releases from Beaver, Table Rock, Bull Shoals or Norfork dams. More Corps Urges Visitors To Use Precautions To Protect Belongings MOUNTAIN HOME, Ark., Aug. 22 – The Army Corps of Engineers, in conjunction with the Baxter County Sheriff’s Office, is advising visitors to area parks to be aware of an increase in thefts and vehicle break-ins. Visitors to Norfork and Bull Shoals lakes who leave vehicles parked or boats docked at the lakes should take a few extra precautions. More Routine Inspection Will Prompt Opening of Norfork Conduit Gates MOUNTAIN HOME, Ark., July 9 – A routine inspection of the stilling basin below the Norfork Dam Power Plant will take place from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m. Thursday, July 10. Work will include opening conduit gates one at a time, which will produce greater than normal river flow. Wading or boating anglers or others using recreation areas close to the North Fork River should be careful not to allow escape routes to be blocked or their boats to be swamped by the rising river. More One Lane of Highway 177 Across Norfork Dam To Temporarily Close Friday NORFORK LAKE, Ark., June 25 – One lane of Arkansas Highway 177 across Norfork Dam will close from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday, June 27 while workers conduct a routine inspection of the dam. Officials urge motorists to plan around the closings and to obey traffic signs and flagmen. More Bull Shoals and Norfork Lakes Ready for the Holiday Weekend MOUNTAIN HOME, Ark, May 22 – Both Bull Shoals and Norfork Lakes are open for visitor use despite the recent record rainfall that will keep both lakes much higher than normal throughout the summer. More White River System Lake Update LITTLE ROCK, Ark., April 18 – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers would like to remind everyone that extreme heavy rains throughout March and April have left the upper White River system lakes with almost no capacity for additional flood storage. Beaver, Table Rock, Bull Shoals, Norfork and Greers Ferry Lakes are currently at or near the top of spillway gates. This means any significant additional rainfall will have to be passed directly through those gates, greatly diminishing the project's ability to reduce flood damages. More High Lake Levels Leave Many Parks Closed at Bull Shoals and Norfork Lakes MOUNTAIN HOME, Ark, April 16 – Because of recent repeated rainfall over the White River Basin and resultant high lake levels, officials with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Mountain Home Project Office have closed several parks and boat ramps at Bull Shoals and Norfork lakes. More Forecast Rain Could Cause Higher Than Normal Releases For White River Dams LITTLE ROCK, Ark., Apr 2 – Recent rain, coupled with heavy rains in the forecast for Thursday, could cause the Army Corps of Engineers to begin making larger than normal releases from four of the six lakes the agency operates in the White River Basin. More Power Generation To Resume At Bull Shoals, Norfork Lakes MOUNTAIN HOME, Ark., March 20 – Beginning tomorrow morning limited hydroelectric power generation will resume at both Bull Shoals and Norfork lakes. The releases are being timed to coincide with the natural drop in the river levels following the torrential rains earlier this week. More Heavy Rains Causing Bull Shoals and Norfork Lakes To Raise MOUNTAIN HOME, Ark., March 19 – Heavy rains this week have caused the levels of Bull Shoals and Norfork Lakes to rise. High lake levels, combined with cold air and water temperatures, will make boating and fishing more hazardous. The Army Corps of Engineers is advising boaters and anglers to prepare for these conditions and use extra caution. More Park Openings It is hard to believe the 2008 recreation season is already approaching. While most outdoor recreation takes place from May through September, the Army Corps of Engineers’ Mountain Home Project begins its early season in March with the opening of two parks on Bull Shoals Lake. More Midwinter Eagle Survey The annual midwinter eagle survey for Bull Shoals and Norfork Lakes was conducted Jan. 9 and 10, and our national symbol, the American bald eagle, is alive and well in the Twin Lakes area. Forty years of conservation have brought these majestic birds back from the brink of extinction. More One Lane of State Highway 178 Across Bull Shoals Dam to Temporary Close MOUNTAIN HOME, Ark., Jan.23 – Because of inspections that will require use of a crane atop Bull Shoals Dam, the south bound lane of Arkansas Highway 178 across the dam will be temporarily closed to vehicle and pedestrian traffic from 7 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb.5. More Hypothermia Threat 45-Second Radio PSA During winter, the Twin Lakes offer superb outdoor activities. But stay alert to the threat of hypothermia, which can occur even during mild temperatures. Cold water robs the body of heat 25 times faster than cold air. Prevention is key. Dress in layers, and protect the head and neck. Wear a life jacket so you can float without excessive movement in case you fall overboard. Be alert for shivering, bluish lips and skin, slurred speech, and blurred vision. If these symptoms appear, immediately seek a warm location and drink warm liquids – but no caffeine or alcohol. Be safe at the lake. This is a message from this station and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Controlled Burn Scheduled Announced MOUNTAIN HOME, Ark., Jan. 11 -- The Army Corps of Engineers announced the beginning of the winter controlled burn season for public land around Bull Shoals and Norfork lakes. Park rangers from the Mountain Home Project Office will conduct prescribed burns on several parcels of public land between now and April 1. More Boaters, Anglers, Can Help Control Spread of Zebra Mussels As many readers now know, Zebra Mussels (Dreissena polymorpha) have been documented in Bull Shoals Lake. This discovery near the boat launch at Lead Hill Park at the upper end of Bull Shoals north of Harrison has caused quite a stir among federal, state and local officials. It is important for local anglers and boaters to become familiar with this invasive species and what we need to do to prevent or slow its spread in the Ozarks. More Zebra Mussel Warning Zebra Mussels have been identified in Bulls Shoals Lake! Please read the following notice for instructions on how to protect our waters from these nuisance species. More pdf Fall Camping May Be Just The Ticket If the thought of cool nights and comfortably warm afternoons appeals to you, if un-crowded campsites and light boat traffic get you thinking about visiting the Twin Lakes again, if the promise of hungry fish in a fall feeding pattern gets you excited, then a fall camping trip to Norfork or Bull Shoals lakes may be just what you are looking for. More As Autumn Approaches, Thoughts Turn to Hunting Season With the approach of the last of the three summer holidays, and with local schools already back in session, many outdoor enthusiasts’ thoughts turn to hunting. The 2007-2008 hunting season is just around the corner. There are many options for hunters in the Twin Lakes area who do not have access to private property, including several state wildlife management areas, national forests, and lands under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. More Falling Lake Levels Spark Need for Boating Caution MOUNTAIN HOME, Ark., Aug. 28 -- The levels of Bull Shoals and Norfork lakes have been normal or slightly above normal through out the summer. Although with the recent extreme heat and lack of rainfall, the lake levels have dropped several feet in the last few weeks. More Corps Seeks Comments on Draft Documents Regarding Water Supply in Norfork Lake LITTLE ROCK, Ark., Aug. 28 – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Little Rock District is seeking public comments through Sept. 30 on draft environmental documents about a proposal to reallocate storage in Norfork Lake to provide increased water supply for Mountain Home. More Patience, Safety Key To Summer Fun On The Lakes It is summer in the Twin Lakes area, and people are heading to the water. Although this summer has not been as hot and dry as some, the lakes are still busy. So whether you are camping, boating, or on a late evening fishing trip, you will not be alone on the lake. Therefore, it pays to use an extra measure of patience with others and practice good water safety habits. More Mountain Home Lakefront June 2007 Mid-summer activities are abounding at Bull Shoals and Norfork lakes, and there are several fun events yet to come. The weather has been mild, and while the season has gone well for most visitors, there have been serious incidents that could have been prevented by applying sound safety principles. Please practice outdoor safety whether you are in the water or on the lakeshore. More Buffer of Public Land Around Norfork and Bull Shoals Lakes Has Many Benefits To some neighbors whose property adjoins the public land surrounding Norfork and Bull Shoals lakes, some of our regulations may seem restrictive. But rest assured, these regulations are designed to help protect these premier lakes for present and future generations. More State Highway 177 Across Norfork Dam To Be Limited to One Lane MOUNTAIN HOME, Ark., Feb. 14 – Because of extensive repairs being made to the roadway atop Norfork Dam, Arkansas Highway 177 across the dam will be limited to one lane for vehicle traffic and will be closed to all pedestrian traffic beginning Tuesday, Feb. 20 through Tuesday, May 15. A temporary signal light will be installed on northbound and southbound lanes to regulate the one-lane traffic. More Changes Coming to Golden Passport Program MOUNTAIN HOME, AR February 13, 2007 – For years the Army Corps of Engineers has participated in the Golden Passport Program, which offered a 50 percent discount on recreation fees to those age 62 and older and those with a permanent disability. However, the passage of the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act of 2004 created a new discount program called the America the Beautiful Interagency Pass Program, and this new program was implemented January 1, 2007. More Corps Announces Improvements to Power Generation Phone Line MOUNTAIN HOME, Ark., July 28 – To provide improved hydropower generation and lake level information at Bull Shoals and Norfork dams, the Army Corps of Engineers’ Mountain Home Project Office and CenturyTel of Mountain Home together have found a way that technology can offer a greater level of service. More Natural Buffer of Public Land Has Many Benefits MOUNTAIN HOME, Ark., Feb. 4 – Regulations governing activities at Norfork and Bull Shoals lakes and the surrounding public lands are part of management plans designed to ensure the public gets the most benefits possible while preserving the natural resources for future generations. As federal projects, all taxpayers throughout the nation have ownership in both lakes. More All Terrain Vehicle Area Now Available The Mountain Home Project Office has provided an area for ATV use near Pigeon Creek Park. The area is located off of State Highway 201, north of Mountain Home. Exit on to Baxter County Road 484. Stay to the left until reaching the parking area. The area provided is designated and fenced, and approximately 25 acres in size. The following rules apply to allow safe use of the area by everyone. For a map of the area and further information, please contact the Mountain Home Project Office. Hours of Operation: Sunrise to Sunset. Vehicle Restrictions: ATV’s and Motorcycles Only Motorized vehicles must not exceed 50 inches in width All vehicles must have an appropriate muffler and spark arrester All vehicles must not create excessive smoke All vehicles must have operable braking system Drivers must not be under the influence of alcohol or other drugs Do not trespass on adjacent private lands Must comply with all federal, state, and local laws For more information, contact the Mountain Home Project Office. Contact: Mountain Home Project Office 324 W 7th Street Mountain Home, AR 72653 Phone: 870-425-2700 Updated/Reviewed: 26 Sep 2008