Millwood Lake facts for kids
Millwood Lake is a large reservoir located in southwestern Arkansas, United States. It's about 9 miles (14 km) from the town of Ashdown. This lake was created by building a dam where two rivers, the Little River and the Saline River, meet. It's a popular spot for outdoor activities and is known for its beautiful scenery and great fishing.
Quick facts for kids Millwood Lake |
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 Millwood Lake
Location in Arkansas
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| Location | southwestern Arkansas |
| Coordinates | 33°45.83′N 94°1.23′W / 33.76383°N 94.02050°W |
| Type | reservoir |
| Catchment area | 4,144 sq mi (10,730 km2) |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Surface area | 29,200 acres (11,800 ha) |
| Shore length1 | 65 mi (105 km) |
| Surface elevation | 259.2 ft (79.0 m) |
| 1 Shore length is not a well-defined measure. | |
Contents
Fun Facts About Millwood Lake
Millwood Lake is quite big! Here are some interesting facts about its size and the dam that created it:
- When the water is at its normal level, the lake covers about 29,200 acres (11,800 hectares).
- The shoreline of the lake stretches for about 65 miles (105 km), which is a long way to explore!
- The dam that holds back the water is very long, measuring over 17,500 feet (5,300 meters). That's more than 3 miles!
- At its highest point, the dam stands about 88 feet (27 meters) above the riverbed.
Exploring Millwood Lake
Millwood Lake is famous for its natural beauty and is a fantastic place for outdoor adventures. There are 15 different parks around the lake. These parks offer many things for visitors, like picnic areas, boat ramps for launching boats, and places to swim. You can also find showers and restrooms, making it easy to spend a whole day or even camp overnight.
Fishing and Wildlife
If you love fishing, Millwood Lake is a top spot! It's especially known for its amazing bass fishing. About 35,000 acres (14,000 hectares) of the lake have submerged trees. These underwater forests are perfect homes for many different kinds of fish. Because of this, Millwood Lake is often called one of the best bass fishing lakes in the United States. Many fishing tournaments and derbies are held here each year, as people try to catch the biggest largemouth bass.
Besides fish, you can spot lots of other animals around the lake. Keep an eye out for white-tailed deer, bobwhite quail, squirrels, doves, rabbits, raccoons, armadillos, opossums, foxes, minks, and beavers.
Boating and Nature
Boating is also a popular activity on Millwood Lake. However, because of all the submerged trees, only certain parts of the lake are safe for boating. About 30,000 acres (12,000 hectares) of the lake are covered by these underwater trees.
The area around Millwood Lake is also home to many beautiful plants. You can see different types of trees like gum, oak, birch, pine, and juniper. There are also lovely flowering shrubs and colorful wildflowers that add to the lake's natural charm.
History of Millwood Lake
The idea for Millwood Lake started with the Flood Control Act of 1946. This act was later updated in 1958. The lake and its dam were designed and built by the Army Corps of Engineers' Tulsa District. This group still helps manage the lake today, including the Beard's Bluff recreation center.
Construction on the project began in 1961 and was completed in 1966. The total cost was about $44 million. The lake and dam were officially opened on December 8, 1966. Millwood Lake plays a very important role in helping to control floods along the Red River below Lake Texoma.
Benefits of the Lake
Millwood Lake provides many benefits to the area. It has helped bring back wildlife to the region. It also supplies water to nearby communities and businesses. For example, a company called Domtar (which used to be Georgia Pacific) in Ashdown, Arkansas, uses 50 million gallons of water from the lake every day for its operations. The lake also provides drinking water to the city of Texarkana, Arkansas, through a water treatment plant located in Ashdown.
