AGFC, Jonesboro to give Craighead lake a makeover

JONESBORO - Venerable and popular Craighead Forest Lake, in the southern section of Jonesboro, will be renovated and updated in a partnership project of the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission and the city of Jonesboro.

The AGFC's commissioners gave the go-ahead to the project at their March meeting after fisheries biologist Sam Barkley, stationed at Jonesboro, outline the lake's problems and the plans for fixing them.

The 75-acre lake is in Craighead Forest Park and is close to the AGFC's new Forrest L. Wood Crowley's Ridge Nature Center. The lake was built in the 1930s and is troubled by siltation and poor fishing, Barkley told the commissioners.

Work is already underway on a hiking trail linking the lake and the nature center. Some education programs at the nature center, which opened last year, will make use of the lake.

A drawdown of the lake will be needed for much of the work, Barkley said. The drawdown will lower the level of the lake 10 feet so construction on the project can be completed.

The plan for reworking the lake includes:

1. Continuing a fertilizing program that began in 2003. The City of Jonesboro buys the fertilizer, and AGFC applies it.

2. Building a boat ramp, parking area and access dock to replace one that will be taken away by expansion of the park's swimming and concession areas. The boat ramp will be 20 feet wide and 176 feet long and will be on the west side of the lake.

3. Building a fishing pond for use by youths. A bridge donated by the Little Rock Air Force Base has been moved to the lake to serve as a fishing platform.

4. Dredging and deepening of filled-in coves. Silting-in is a natural occurrence for most older lakes, fisheries biologists report.

5. Putting cover and structure on the lakebed to improve fish habitat. This will include construction debris lake tree root wads, concrete rubble and old culverts.

The work will cost about $174,000, with the city of Jonesboro contributing $62,200 including services. Most of the AGFC's share of the costs will come from Sport Fish Restoration funds, which stem from federal excise taxes paid on fishing equipment, tackle and supplies.