Lake Fayetteville

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.

Lake Fayetteville Dam
View of the lake from the dam
Location of Lake Fayetteville Dam in Arkansas
Country	United States
Location	Fayetteville, Arkansas
Coordinates	36°8′8″N 94°8′21″W
Status	Open
Construction began	1949
Owner(s)	City of Fayetteville
Reservoir
Creates	Lake Fayetteville
Total capacity	286,000,000 cubic feet (8,100,000 m^3)
Surface area	14.9 square miles (3,900 ha)
Maximum length	1,733 feet (528 m)
Maximum water depth	49 feet (15 m)
Normal elevation	1,257 feet (383 m)

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]

Amenities

Lake Fayetteville has a marina operated by the City of Fayetteville and fishing piers. The lake contains bass, crappie, carp, bluegill, and catfish.[3]

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,[4] with a full 4.5 miles (7.2 km) paved trail around the lake completed in 2013.[5] 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.[6]

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.[7]

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. Putthoff, Flip (April 11, 2017). "Carp go for bread, vanilla at Lake Fayetteville". Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. Little Rock. Retrieved July 4, 2020.
4. 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.
5. 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.
6. 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.
7. Ryburn, Stacy (June 18, 2017). "City prepares to remove trees from Lake Fayetteville dam". Northwest Arkansas Democrat Gazette. Retrieved July 4, 2020.