Lake Fayetteville

Dam in Fayetteville, Arkansas
36°8′8″N 94°8′21″W / 36.13556°N 94.13917°W / 36.13556; -94.13917StatusOpenConstruction began1949Owner(s)City of FayettevilleReservoirCreatesLake FayettevilleNormal elevation1,237 feet (377 m)

Lake Fayetteville is a reservoir of Clear Creek created by Lake Fayetteville Dam in 1949 in Fayetteville, Arkansas.[1] Bordered on the north by Springdale, the lake was created as a water supply for the City of Fayetteville, but now serves as recreational lake surrounded by residential neighborhoods and as a focal point along the Razorback Regional Greenway for cyclists and trail users throughout Northwest Arkansas.

History

Lake Fayetteville was used as a water supply for Fayetteville until the creation of Beaver Water District, a regional provider whose source is Beaver Lake.

The Clear Creek watershed contains rapidly developing areas of both cities; as a result, stormwater washes sediment and dissolved nutrients into Lake Fayetteville, including nitrogen and phosphorus. The lake has undergone eutrophication, and occasionally has toxic algal blooms. [2] The variables that best predict these blooms have historically been increased water temperatures, low inorganic nitrogen concentrations, and an intermediate molar ratio of nitrogen to phosphorus. [3]

Amenities

Lake Fayetteville has a marina operated by the City of Fayetteville and fishing piers. The lake contains bass, crappie, carp, bluegill, and catfish.[4]

Trail along the dam

The lake has long had a nature trail around the lake, including passing through the Botanical Garden of the Ozarks. The Lake Fayetteville Nature Trail is a dirt path with tree markers passing through the oak-hickory forest typical of the Ozark Mountains. The first segment of paved trail connecting to the Razorback Regional Greenway was completed in 2007,[5] with a full 4.5 miles (7.2 km) paved trail around the lake completed in 2013.[6] The nature trail was rehabilitated and expanded into a mountain biking trail beginning in 2010.

Students from Fayetteville Public Schools and Springdale Public Schools have jointly studied the water for biology and hydrology classes using the Springdale-Fayetteville Center for the Study of Aquatic Resources on the lake since 1974.[7]

After an risk-based inspection by the Arkansas Natural Resources Commission describing a consequence of failure submerging the city of Johnson, Arkansas, the City of Fayetteville removed many large sycamore trees from the dam in 2017, and planted wildflowers.[8]

References

  1. ^ U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Lake Fayetteville
  2. ^ "Toxic algae found in Fayetteville lake - Avoid contact with water, agency says". Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. June 5, 2020. Retrieved July 4, 2020.
  3. ^ Ferri, Alyssa (August 3, 2022). "Cyanobacterial Harmful Algal Blooms Vary Within and Across Years at Lake Fayetteville, Arkansas". Graduate Theses and Dissertations. Retrieved April 20, 2024.
  4. ^ Putthoff, Flip (April 11, 2017). "Carp go for bread, vanilla at Lake Fayetteville". Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. Little Rock. Retrieved July 4, 2020.
  5. ^ Ward, Kate (September 6, 2007). "Expanded trail provides more activity around Lake Fayetteville". The Northwest Arkansas Times. Fayetteville. p. 1. Retrieved July 4, 2020 – via NewsBank.
  6. ^ Walsh, Joel (January 12, 2012). "City To Extend Lake Fayetteville Loop - Trail Connection Welcome Addition for Hikers, Bikers". Springdale Morning News. Springdale. p. 4. Retrieved July 4, 2020 – via NewsBank.
  7. ^ McNeely, Brooke; Bennett, Brett (January 27, 2005). "Keeping science afloat - Lake Fayetteville still 'most studied lake in Arkansas'". The Northwest Arkansas Times. Fayetteville. p. 1. Retrieved July 4, 2020 – via NewsBank.
  8. ^ Ryburn, Stacy (June 18, 2017). "City prepares to remove trees from Lake Fayetteville dam". Northwest Arkansas Democrat Gazette. Retrieved July 4, 2020.