Lakes Hamilton & Catherine Fisheries Management

• Establishment of a Ouachita River Environmental Enhancement Fund
• Donation of land for Andrew Hulsey Fish Hatchery
• Mid 1970s Cooperative funding in the construction of multiple boat ramps and handicapped-accessible fishing platforms on both Lakes Hamilton & Catherine, including the ramp currently under construction at Carpenter Dam park.
• The coordination of water release below Carpenter Dam to facilitate the Commission's fish population monitoring activities
• The control of water level fluctuations in both Lakes Catherine & Hamilton to facilitate fish reproduction during the spring spawning period
• Cooperative management of nuisance aquatic vegetation in the lakes
• Accommodating increased input from the AGFC in scheduling lake drawdowns to benefit aquatic resources
• Assisting in the installation of sunken brush piles to serve as fish shelters
• Funding of various research projects, including a Creel Survey and various fisheries reports and studies
• Promoting the installation of Rip-Rap type shoreline protection instead of solid sea wall.
• Limiting lake bottom dredging to protect fish spawning habitat
• Sponsoring lake cleanups
• Publishing "Life on the Lakes' newsletter, which is sometimes used to increase awareness of fisheries issues
• Committing to early implementation of a minimum continuous flow from Remmel Dam to improve the fish habitat in the Ouachita River
• Altering Remmel Dam intakes to draw water from closer to the surface where it is warmer. This is to increase downstream water temperatures to improve fish habitat in the Ouachita River
• Cooperating with the AGFC and ADEQ in working with the ACOE on a study to determine the feasibility of construction weirs in the Ouachita River below Remmel Dam to improve fish habitat in the river