Kayaking and Canoeing on upper portion of Lake Maumelle

[martinm]

Folks,

I work at Central Arkansas Water, the water utility for much of central arkansas. Lake Maumelle is the principle reservoir for the utility, and as many of you know, kayaking has not been allowed anywhere on the lake.

We are proposing to change that, to allow kayaking on the upper portion of the lake, west of the Highway 10 bridge. Launching must be at the Sleepy Hollow access, a small park the uitility operates about a mile or so west of the Highway 10/Highway 113 intersection.

Specifically, kayaks and canoes will be allowed in the Lake west of the Highway 10 bridge. Launching must be at Sleepy Hollow access. A launch fee will not be required. The current 14’ length restriction will be dropped for this section of the Lake.

The Central Arkansas Board will be considering this proposal at their December 10th Board Meeting here in Little Rock, at 2 pm. The meeting will be on the third floor of our office building, located at 221 E. Capitol (the corner of Cumberland and Capitol). If you live in central arkansas, and can make it, you may want to show up to show support for this change.

Martin

E-mails of support can be addressed to:

Stephanie.hymel@carkw.com
Stewardship Coordinator
Central Arkansas Water

[DeBo]

Hi Martin!

I will try to be there.

[c8mb]

Email sent

[mcmurma]

I hope this reply is not completely off base, but it would seem that "canoes" at least (and apparently this is the key wording) are already allowed under the current rules.

http://www.carkw.com/source/lake_maumelle.asp" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Rule "33. Lake patrons shall restrict canoeing to the Lake Area west of the
Arkansas Highway 10 Bridge. Canoe launching is permissible at Sleepy Hollow and at the access west of the Arkansas Highway 10 Bridge; however, actual canoeing activity must remain west of the bridge."

The trick, it seems, is that rule 8 expressly denies kayaks: "Swimming, bathing, wading, and the use of aquaplanes, surfboards, motorized surfboards, wind-powered surfboards, personal water craft, water skis, rafts, kayaks, or other similar devices or vehicles that the Rules and Regulations do not expressly permit are prohibited."

Basically, canoes are expressly allowed, while kayaks are excluded (and therefore prohibited). I know this is old news to the small craft faithful, but, wow... I'm still trying to wrap my head around this. I've even commented about it recently in my personal blog.

http://trippingonthrough.blogspot.com/2 ... t-mix.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

It would seem that my original take was even more off base than I thought... I was under the impression that kayaks were already permitted, along with canoes, west of the hwy 10 bridge (insert obnoxious "you are WRONG" game show buzzer here). But then, I suppose that any concessions being considered to amend these curious rules are cause for celebration.

[msullivan57]

I will try to make this meeting and will try to drive out and look at this area. I have lived in Little Rock all my life and have driven past that part of Lake Maumelle probably hundreds of times. My memory right now is that is not a very large body of water west of the bridge. But from my perspective, as a recreational kayaker, it would be very useful to have access to this area. I have tried to introduce family members and friends to kayaking. Right now in the Little Rock area you have the Little Maumelle, Big Maumelle, and Arkansas River at I-430 ramp to take newcomers to try kayaking. None of these are ideal. I have driven as far as Lake Ouachita to have family members have a more friendly first time experience. Like I said, I need to go inspect that area to refresh my memory but think this would be an important addition for a flat water area to kayak in the Little Rock area. If I can't attend the meeting I will email the contact to support this issue.

Mike

[msullivan57]

I didn't attend the meeting but I got a response to my email from Stephanie Hymel that the Central Arkansas Water Board of Directors approved kayaks on the section of Lake Maumelle west of highway 10 bridge. Access is the Sleepy Hollow launch area described above. The effective date of use of kayaks has not been decided and will be posted at a later date on the CAW web site, per Stephanie. Good news. That's all I know.

Mike

[Paddlegal]

Has anyone ever paddled the Maumelle river upstream from this location? The day Google Maps took the SatPics, there was plenty of water. Perhaps a couple of portages through trees.


Seems as if one could put in a few miles upstream and paddle to Hwy 10. Maybe put in In Ouachita Natl Forest?

I smell exploring coming on.......

[carlscott]

Hwy 9 crosses the Big Maumelle just south of Hwy 10 and Williams Junction. Based on a quick computation on Map My Ride, it would be a little over eight miles. Once CAW gives the green light and you feel like a little expedition, count me in.