Natural Resources

Forestry Management

When land for Lake Greeson Project was purchased in the late 1940s, much of it had been farmed for generations. Unfortunately, poor soil conservation practices resulted in badly depleted soils which could no longer support row crops. The shift from the agrarian lifestyle earlier this century gave the opportunity for some tracts to revert to forest by natural regeneration. From the beginning, management of a healthy forest has been recognized as vital to all other natural resources and recreation management programs.

The goals of the Lake Greeson Project forest management program are to sustain and enhance the health, vigor, and diversity of the project's forest to support recreation and wildlife management programs; protect and improve water quality; facilitate and improve public use and enjoyment of public property; and provide a sustained yield of quality forest products.

Loblolly pine, shortleaf pine, sweet gum, and oak are the dominant tree species on upland areas. Occasionally small patches of upland hardwoods and longleaf pine are interspersed within pine stands where soil conditions permit. Bottomland hardwoods are common along rivers, creeks, and intermittent streams which enter the lake.

Accepted forest management practices, including insect and disease suppression, timber harvesting, prescribed fires, chemical and mechanical site preparation, and regeneration, are methods employed to assure the continuation of the resource. Timber harvest activities are coordinated with state parks, wildlife management agencies, adjoining property owners, and other affected parties to minimize conflicts and to assure mutual goals are met. Revenues generated from the sale of forest products are returned to Lake Greeson to support recreation and natural resources management programs.

Wildlife Management

Public lands around Lake Greeson offer a wide variety of habitats for numerous species of mammals, birds, and reptiles. From the 1950s until present, Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, in cooperation with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, have made significant strides in wildlife management, to include the reintroduction of white-tailed deer, wild turkey, and Canada geese. In recent years, increased focus has been placed on non-game species, including rare, threatened, and endangered species. Today, sightings of southern bald eagles, migratory waterfowl, and neotropical birds are commonplace.

The goals of the Lake Greeson wildlife management program are to maintain habitat diversity, improve habitat for a variety of game and non-game species, encourage and accommodate public use and appreciation of wildlife resources and, in the case of rare, threatened, or endangered species, to provide optimum habitat conditions and/or protection.

Project wide there are 16 wildlife management food plots ranging in size from 1 to 3 acres planted in a variety of annual crops, wild fruit trees, and mast producing trees to provide a supplemental source of food for wildlife.  Management plans which are prepared for each food plot, include specific management objectives, existing activities, and additional work needed.  Whenever possible, silvicultural practices such as timber harvesting and prescribed burns are used to accomplish wildlife management objectives. There are 35,000 acres in the Lake Greeson Wildlife Management Area.  Applications for permit deer hunts in the management area may be obtained from the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission.

Fisheries Management

The goals of the Lake Greeson fisheries management program are to protect, conserve, and restore aquatic ecosystems, to assist partners in improving the quality and quantity of fishing opportunities, and to encourage and accommodate public use and appreciation of the project's fisheries resources.

Major emphasis is placed on maintaining lake conditions favorable for fish spawning and survival. In the spring, lake level fluctuation is minimized during the spawning periods for largemouth bass and crappie. Additionally, fisheries habitat is improved by maintaining shallow water fish attractors, felling trees into the water along the shoreline, and planting flood tolerant plant species along the shoreline.

The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission stock Lake Greeson with striped bass, crappie, walleye, largemouth bass, and channel catfish.  The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission conducts programs including fisheries population studies, establishment of aquatic plants and grass, and submerged fish attractors.

Working together, local, state and federal agencies protect Lake Greeson for future generations and provide some of the best facilities for outdoor recreation in the nation. This includes construction of a handicapped accessible fishing pier, and paved access roads to boat ramps.