PINE BLUFF - The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission will begin lowering the level in Lake Pine Bluff the first week of June to permit construction of a new pavilion on the lakeshore.

The pavilion, planned to accommodate a farmers’ market and an amphitheater, is being built over the water to bring more visitors to the lake and make use of this excellent resource. Heavy equipment will be needed to set pilings that will support the elevated pavilion. The lake’s levee has begun to deteriorate, and the lower level also will protect it from further degradation until it can be reinforced.

Although the lake will be drawn down for construction, the water level will only be reduced to the top of the riprap on the levee, so recreationists can still enjoy the water.

“We’re only dropping the water level around two feet, so the fishery should not be affected,” said Assistant Chief of Fisheries Mike Armstrong. “We are going to wait until June before we begin the drawdown to protect the bass that may be spawning in the shallow water.”