Lake Size: 3,550 Acre Shoreline Length (Miles): 400 miles Deepest Depth: 40 feet Latitude: 34.9732 Longitude: -93.1991 Lake Level Above Sea Level: 341 feet (104 m) Counties: Yell County Cities: Danville, Nimrod, Plainview Lake Management: US Army Corps of Engineers
Information: Nimrod Lake is a reservoir in western Arkansas. It is the oldest Corps of Engineers project in Arkansas, it was completed in 1942 on the Fourche LaFave River.
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Miscellaneous Info
Nimrod Dam was constructed during the end of the Great Depression, and the Beginning of World War II. Nimrod Lake was authorized by the Flood Control Act of 1938. Engineers started preparing for a dam site in late 1939, preparing for the construction of the dam began in early 1940, and the actual construction started in mid-1940. Construction continued after the start of World War 2, and ended on March, 1942. Nimrod Lake was the first lake made by the Little Rock District of the Corps of Engineers, and the first Corp lake in Arkansas. The total cost of the project was $3,773,000. Once the lake was completed, recreational opportunities became possible. Although recreation was not part of the project, it later became a significant part of Nimrod Lake. Camping, swimming, boating, and hunting are now popular activities on the lake. Nimrod Lake celebrated its Golden Anniversary on June, 1992, the celebration honored the former construction workers, engineers, and contractors who helped make the lake possible.
The lake is popular for sportsmen, mainly fishermen and hunters. The most common fish caught are crappie, largemouth bass, bream, white bass, and catfish. Recreation is also popular, especially water skiing, swimming, and boating. The Fourche LaFave River has its headwaters near "Y" City, Arkansas, and Boles. Fourche means fork in the French Language, and LaFave is supposed to have been a French family that lived in the area. Nimrod Lake was named after Nimrod, the great grandson of Noah. Nimrod was a mighty hunter, and the lake was named after him because of the wildlife that surrounds the lake. Nimrod Lake is adjacent to the Scenic Byway 7 and is located between the Ouachita National Forest and the Ozark National Forest.
The Nimrod Lake & Dam were authorized by the Flood Control Act of 1938. Testing the site for the dam started in September of 1939 with core drilling and test trenches. Clearing and preparing the site for construction started in February of 1940. Actual construction of the dam began in April of 1940 and was continued after the start of World War II. It was completed in March of 1942 making it the first to be constructed in the Little Rock District. The total cost of the project was $3,773,000.
Nimrod Lake is a part of a comprehensive plan for flood control and development of water resources in the Fourche LaFave River and lower Arkansas River Valleys.
Recreation was not a part of the initial mission of Nimrod Lake, however, through the years, it has evolved into a significant part of the project. Nimrod now offers a full range of recreational opportunities such as camping, swimming, boating, and hunting.
The project celebrated its’ Golden Anniversary in June of 1992 with festivities for the public and a special emphasis of honoring former construction workers and contractors who helped build the project and clear the lands.
Nimrod Lake is a perfect place for the outdoor enthusiast to swim, ski, boat, camp, picnic, hike, hunt, or fish. There are five full service modern campgrounds and one modern day use area on the lake. Three of the campgrounds (Quarry Cove, County Line, and Carter Cove) are on the lake, Sunlight Bay is on Wilson Slough which is located just off of the Fourche LaFave River upstream of the lake, and River Road is on the Fourche LaFave River just downstream of the Nimrod Dam. Carden Point is a day use only area located on the lake. These areas offer 134 campsites, 8 picnic sites, 11 boat launch ramps, 4 designated swimming beaches, 5 group picnic shelters, 6 playgrounds, 1 amphitheater and miles of shoreline.
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