Partnerships

Partners – Annually, the DeGray Lake Field Office goal is to provide quality customer care.  We want to meet and exceed our customers and stakeholders expectations.  With increasing visitation, ongoing budget and manpower restraints, this goal is increasingly difficult to attain.  We realize that fostering partnership opportunities are paramount in helping meet our mission essential tasks.

DeGray Lake Geo-Trek Interpretive Trail - In 2007, DeGray Lake entered into a partnership with Chevron, Schlumberger and the University of Oklahoma.   The partnership has began construction and maintenance of  the DeGray Lake Geo-Trek Interpretive Trail, a 1.0 - mile loop trail focusing on geologic processes in the DeGray Lake Spillway.  Like many other Corps of Engineers projects, DeGray Lake offers unique natural resource features that support mission essential tasks; moreover, these resources are of great importance to special interest groups. One such group, the geological community, visits DeGray Lake project lands to study rock strata outcrops that were exposed during the construction of DeGray Dam, Spillway, and associated structures. University geology departments, oil company geologists, and the Arkansas Geological Survey make annual pilgrimages to DeGray Lake Spillway to investigate the superbly exposed sedimentary rocks of the Jackfork Formation. This formation is termed "world class" by geologic investigators and is considered one of the most studied and visited exposure of its type in the world.  These systems are the leading petroleum producing reservoirs world wide. Every time a petroleum product is utilized, one can indirectly credit DeGray Lake for providing a laboratory of sorts in providing a standard that is utilized by the petroleum exploration industry. Annually, some 10,000 geology enthusiasts study the DeGray Lake Spillway. 

Avian Vacuolar Myelinopathy - Since 1994, more than 60 bald eagles have died in Arkansas, afflicted by a mysterious disease designated as Avian Vacuolar Myelinopathy (AVM).  This disease, which has affected eagles at DeGray Lake and other lakes to the north and southwest, has also affected coots and ducks in other locations in the southeast United States.  The search for the cause of this disease continues in earnest, and is now concentrating on a species of blue green algae, found attached to vegetation, which may release a naturally occurring toxin.  Corps personnel at DeGray Lake gather samples of aquatic vegetation at different locations at different depths of the lake throughout the year and send them to laboratories in hopes they may prove valuable towards finding the cause.  The Corps has partnered with more than 70 organizations/agencies in researching this disease, including Ouachita Baptist University, Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, Natural Wildlife Health Center, University of South Carolina Marine Resources Research Institute, Clemson University and many others.  These partnerships have already resulted in collaborations on other matters.  It is hoped that through these partnerships and the vast expertise involved, a definitive cause of this malady will be discovered. 

Arkansas Sheriffs’ Youth Ranch - The Cox Creek Recreation Area on DeGray Lake was closed due to budgetary considerations in April 1982.  In 2003, this forgotten campground was chosen as a campus site for the Arkansas Sheriffs’ Youth Ranch. This partnering effort now serves as a home for disadvantaged Arkansas youths. In June 2007, the DeGray Lake Campus dream continued to be a reality as the Youth Ranch dedicated the Tucker Lodge and continued construction of the campus chapel.   Currently, 12 girls have been given a second chance for a better way of life.

 DeGray Lake Wildlife Management Area (WMA) - In 2007, DeGray Lake became an Arkansas Wildlife Management Area. This important partnership with the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission is an invaluable management tool.   This partnership provides for better law enforcement to protect game and non-game species, cultural resources, reduce environmental degradation, and provides money and manpower for control burns, food plots and monitoring of endangered species.

Iron Mountain Lodge and Marina - The Corps of Engineers participates in win-win partnerships with commercial concession lessees all around the country; DeGray Lake is no exception to this partnering success story.  The Corps enjoys a tremendous working relationship with the Iron Mountain Lodge and Marina. 

Water Safety Partnerships – As previously mentioned, partnering efforts drive our water safety program.  These professional relationships are the essential ingredient to saving lives on the water.  In 2007, the water safety budget was minimal at best.  Yet, our water safety educational program efforts doubled from previous years.  Partnering has offered us the opportunity to compete with districts that have more resources, but most importantly to foster an enjoyable water based experience where safe use is an integral part of the outing.