Central Arkansas Water commissioners approved a $357,000 design services contract Thursday for planned repairs to the dam at Lake Maumelle, the reservoir that supplies drinking water to Central Arkansas.
The contract will support a detailed examination of the earthworks structure and the design of a permanent repair. Utility officials are moving forward while the reservoir remains well below its normal operating level, allowing construction planning to proceed without artificially draining or lowering the lake.
Material shifted on the upstream slope
Material on the upstream slope began sliding in late 2024. Board documents show that the affected section expanded from about 250 feet to nearly 500 feet over a two-week period. Displaced earth collected at the bottom of the slope and extended into the reservoir.
Elizabeth Heiles, a senior engineer for Central Arkansas Water, told commissioners that the dam’s clay core remains intact and that utility personnel have observed no leaks. She said the structure is believed to be sound and that officials have no concern about a breach or failure.
“There is no concern about a dam breach or failure.”
The utility authorized emergency repairs beginning in 2025. That work included placing thousands of tons of crushed stone along the affected slope. As the emergency work neared completion, however, officials observed movement within the repaired area. They paused the project and monitored the slope through the remainder of last year, according to board materials.
Low lake level creates opportunity for work
Lake Maumelle’s water level was 11 feet below its normal operating level this month because of drought conditions in Arkansas. Heiles told the board that staff brought the project forward even though it was not included in the utility’s budget for the current year.
“We have a really prime opportunity to be able to repair this without having to artificially drain the lake or lower it in any capacity.”
The design contract is intended to determine the work required for a longer-lasting repair. In response to a question from Jay Hartman, the board’s vice chairman, Heiles said officials hope the permanent fix will last for decades rather than require the periodic repairs that have been performed every 10 to 15 years.
- Contract: $357,000 for design services tied to the dam repair.
- Reservoir level: 11 feet below the normal conservation-pool level this month.
- Previous emergency work: Thousands of tons of crushed stone were placed on the slope beginning in 2025.
The board’s approval authorizes the design phase. Central Arkansas Water will use the analysis to determine the permanent work needed on the slope while the lake remains at a historically low level.
