Lakes Hamilton and Catherine fisheries management
Entergy Arkansas has a long history of cooperation with the Arkansas Game & Fish commission in improving the fisheries resources. Examples include:
- Establishment of a Ouachita River Environmental Enhancement Fund
- Donation of land for Andrew Hulsey Fish Hatchery
- Cooperative funding in the construction of multiple boat ramps and handicapped-accessible fishing platforms on both Lakes Hamilton and Catherine
- Coordination of water release below Carpenter Dam to facilitate the Commission’s fish population monitoring activities
- Controlling water level fluctuations in both Lakes Catherine & Hamilton to facilitate fish reproduction during the spring spawning period
- Cooperative management of nuisance aquatic vegetation in the lakes
- Accommodating increased input from the AGFC in scheduling lake drawdowns to benefit aquatic resources
- Assisted in the installation of sunken brush piles to serve as fish shelters
- Funding of various research projects, including a Creel Survey and various fisheries reports and studies
- Promoting the installation of riprap type shoreline protection instead of solid sea wall.
- Limiting lake bottom dredging to protect fish spawning habitat
- Sponsoring lake cleanups
- Publishing “Life on the Lakes’ newsletter, which is sometimes used to increase awareness of fisheries issues
- Committed to providing a minimum continuous flow from Remmel Dam to improve the fish habitat in the Ouachita River
- Cooperated with the AGFC and Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality in working with the Army Corp of Engineers on a study to determine the feasibility of construction weirs in the Ouachita River below Remmel Dam to improve fish habitat in the river