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Lake Maumelle
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Preface
Lake Maumelle is a public water supply reservoir that
serves the Little Rock-North Little Rock metropolitan
area. The sole purpose for the construction of the lake was
to provide a high-quality water supply for customers.CAW
owns the lake and its Board of Commissioners (Board) has
the responsibility of ensuring the water quality and protection
of the lake. The reservoir is a vital component of the
public drinking water system and is a raw water supply for
a population of 398,000.

The lake is available for limited recreational use. This
brochure outlines the Rules and Regulations that the
Board has adopted to govern authorized recreational
uses in the Lake Area. All persons using the Lake Area for
recreational purposes must abide by the Rules and
Regulations and all referenced rules, laws, etc., of the
State of Arkansas and the federal government. The Board
may curtail or entirely prohibit all authorized uses if it
believes such action is necessary to protect the water
supply. The Board urges all persons using the Lake Area
to cooperate with and abide by the Rules and
Regulations so that the Water Utility may continue the
authorized recreational uses of this beautiful area.
Under State of Arkansas law, conviction for a violation of
the Rules and Regulations carries a minimum fine of $50
and a maximum fine of $200, plus court costs.

General
The Board has adopted and established the following
Rules and Regulations for the Lake Maumelle area. The
Lake Area encompasses all property of Central Arkansas
Water in Pulaski County, Arkansas, lying west of Pinnacle
Mountain, and includes property that the Water Utility
leases to other individuals and/or marina operators.
The Board extends the privileges of boating, fishing, and
other permitted recreational uses on Lake Maumelle to
all persons who comply with the Rules and Regulations.
The Board may, without prosecution, suspend or revoke
the privileges of a person whom it believes to be in violation
of the rules. The Board may revoke or suspend the
privileges of a person convicted of violating the Rules and
Regulations or convicted of violating in the Lake Area
applicable State of Arkansas or federal rules or laws
regarding public water supply reservoirs, boating, hunting,
or fishing.
The Board, in accordance with State law, has designated
certain Water Utility personnel as Lake Wardens. The
Lake Wardens have authority to enforce the Rules and
Regulations. The Lake Wardens and other law enforcement
officers have authority to issue tickets and make
arrests for violations of the rules, in accordance with Ark.
Code Ann. 14-251-108; State boating laws; and the Arkansas
Department of Health’s Rules and Regulations pertaining
to Public Water Systems.
To protect water quality, Lake Maumelle consists of two
zones, as shown in the accompanying map in this
brochure. The establishment of the zones and the map
are parts of the official Rules and Regulations. Special and
clearly visible markers and buoys distinguish the area of
the restricted zone from the remainder of the lake (unrestricted
area). The unrestricted Lake Area is open to
boating and fishing only during the hours of 6 a.m. to 8
p.m. November 1 through March 31 and 24 hours a day
from April 1 through October 31.

No persons other than Water Utility personnel or law
enforcement officers engaged in the performance of their
duties may enter or exit the Lake Area other than at
points of entry/exit that the private dock operators have
leased for this purpose or at areas that the Water Utility
has marked clearly as picnic facilities.

Watershed Protection

In February 2007, the Board of Commissioners, CAW,
adopted the Lake Maumelle Watershed Management Plan.
The comprehensive plan specifically directs that the water
utility undertake strategies and standards related to lake
management, private land development, forestry activities,
other land disturbances, property owner practices, and
land acquisition to ensure the long-term viability of the
lake, as a drinking water supply. The management plan will
help to ensure a high quality of drinking water for generations
to come. To view the watershed management plan,
visit http://www.carkw.com/watershed/future.asp.

Prohibited Activities

  1. No person shall perform an act in the Lake Area that tends to
    pollute the waters of Lake Maumelle other than acts that are permitted by
    the Rules and Regulations.
  2. The Water Utility has provided appropriate receptacles for waste
    and prohibits lake patrons from depositing refuse, cans, trash, garbage, or
    human waste on lands or waters in the Lake Area, except in the receptacles
    that the Water Utility has provided for said purposes.
  3. The emptying of a toilet into the lake is prohibited.
  4. Camping, hunting, and trapping are prohibited in the Lake Area.
  5. Picnicking, except in picnic areas that the Water Utility has
    established and marked for such, is prohibited in the Lake Area.
  6. Cooking and the building or setting of fires in the Lake Area
    are prohibited, except in fireplaces that the Water Utility has established
    in picnic areas. Lake patrons may not smoke or build fires in the facilities
    during burn bans in effect by order of the Arkansas Forestry Commission or
    Pulaski County Judge.
  7. The introduction of materials for fish habitat enhancement in
    the lake and the presence of brush-cutting devices in a boat in the Lake
    Area or on the lake are prohibited.
  8. Swimming, bathing, wading, and the use of aquaplanes, surfboards, motorized
    surfboards, wind-powered surfboards, personal water craft, water skis, rafts,
    kayaks, or other similar devices or vehicles that the Rules and Regulations do
    not expressly permit are prohibited.
  9. Skin diving and aqua-lung sports are prohibited. A Lake Warden, upon request,
    may grant a special permit for the recovery of lost personal property.
  10. The destruction, injury, defacement, or removal of signs, public property, vegetation,
    rocks, or minerals is prohibited.
  11. The distribution, posting, or displaying of advertisements and private notices
    in the Lake Area without authorization from the Water Utility is prohibited.
  12. The placement of buildings or structures in the Lake Area without Water Utility
    approval is prohibited.
  13. A meeting of a political nature, as defined by the Board or Water Utility, is prohibited
    in the Lake Area and on the leased areas.The landing of aircraft in the Lake Area
    is prohibited.
  14. The landing of aircraft in the Lake Area is prohibited.
  15. All pets in the Lake Area shall be on leash and shall not be allowed in the water.
  16. No person willfully shall permit livestock in the Lake Area.
  17. The possession of firearms and ammunition in the Lake Area by individuals other
    than law enforcement officers and Lake Wardens who have said authority is prohibited.
  18. The use of fireworks in the Lake Area is prohibited.

    Fishing
  19. Fishing is prohibited in the restricted zone (Zone 1). Zone 2 is
    open to fishing activities.
  20. Commercial fishing and fishing by trotline, seine, net, trap,
    gig, jug lines, yo-yo, or setline are prohibited in the lake.
  21. Fishing from roads, bridges, or docks is prohibited. The Rules
    and Regulations permit fishing only from boats and designated bank fishing
    areas.
  22. An activity that violates a law, rule, or regulation of the
    Arkansas Game & Fish Commission is prohibited in the Lake Area.

    Boating
  23. In Zone 1 (restricted area), the Water Utility prohibits all boating activities,
    with the exception of boating activities by Lake Wardens; Water Utility,
    Arkansas Game & Fish Commission, and United States Geological Survey
    personnel; and law enforcement officers engaged in the performance of their
    duties. Zone 2 is open to boating activities.
  24. Owners/operators must equip and operate boats in accordance with State boating
    laws. The Lake Warden shall require the prompt removal of a boat that the
    Lake Warden deems unsafe for lake conditions or that is being operated in an
    unsafe manner.
  25. No person shall operate a boat on the lake while intoxicated or
    under the influence of alcohol, as described in Ark. Code Ann.
    5-76-102(a)(2); under the influence of a narcotic drug, barbiturate, or
    marijuana; or under a physical or mental disability that renders the person
    incapable of operating the boat safely under the prevailing circumstances
    and conditions.
  26. The lake and Lake Area are not open to boats with an unblocked
    through-the-hull toilet.
  27. Cooking on boats is prohibited.
  28. A boat operator shall not launch or operate a boat on the lake
    without a prior thorough cleaning of the boat's interior and exterior. All
    boats are subject to inspection at all times. The Water Utility shall
    require the removal or prohibit the launching of a boat that fails to pass
    inspection.
  29. No person under 16 years of age may operate a boat on the lake
    without the accompaniment of an adult. The Lake Warden may grant special
    permits for training on smaller boats.
  30. The lake is not open to boats less than 14 feet in length. The
    Lake Warden may grant special permits for training on smaller boats.
  31. Lake patrons may place boats upon the Lake Area only at points of
    entry that the private dock operators have leased for said purpose or at the
    designated hand-launch area at Sleepy Hollow. Launching at Sleepy Hollow
    requires a valid launch permit. The Water Utility may confiscate a boat or
    boat and motor, upon the determination that the operator has not entered the
    lake at a prescribed entry point. The owner may recover the boat only upon
    the payment of the Water Utility¹s applicable charge for taking, towing,
    and/or storing said boat.
  32. Boat owners/operators shall restrict their operation of boats
    with a primary motor of less than nine horsepower to the Lake Area west
    of the Arkansas Highway 10 Bridge. Sail boats are not subject to this rule.
  33. Lake patrons shall restrict canoeing to the Lake Area west of the
    Arkansas Highway 10 Bridge. Canoe launching is permissible at Sleepy Hollow
    and at the access west of the Arkansas Highway 10 Bridge; however, actual
    canoeing activity must remain west of the bridge.
  34. When operating a boat on the lake during hours of darkness, the
    owner/operator must conform the boat's lighting to the specifications contained in the
    Arkansas Boating Laws, Title 27, as amended, and the regulations promulgated
    by the Arkansas Game & Fish Commission.

    Dock Operators
  35. Dock operators shall store and handle gasoline, oil, and other
    inflammable liquids in a manner satisfactory to the Water Utility and in
    compliance with all state and federal regulatory requirements.
  36. Dock operators shall not permit a person, business, corporation,
    or a representative of such to engage in or solicit business on the leased
    area without prior authorization by the Water Utility.
  37. All docks shall have the necessary boat haul-out mechanism.
  38. Dock operators shall be responsible for requiring that boat
    operators thoroughly clean the interior and exterior of all rented boats and
    private boats prior to launching or prior to leaving the dock area.
  39. Dock operators shall not permit the launching of a boat, private
    or rented, in an unsafe condition from their leased areas.
  40. Dock operators shall not permit the launching of a boat, private or rented,
    from their leased areas by a person under the influence of alcohol, narcotic
    drug, barbiturate, or marijuana; or under a physical or mental disability that
    renders the person incapable of operating the boat safely under the prevailing
    circumstances and conditions.


    The Board of Commissioners, Central Arkansas Water, adopted
    the revised Rules and Regulations herein for Lake Maumelle
    on October 10, 2002.

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