Little Rock District - U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

Protecting Lives and Property Through Excellence

Our water resource management mission stands at the core of everything we do in the Little Rock District. Through careful operation and maintenance of our 12 multipurpose lakes and associated dams, we provide critical flood protection to communities throughout Arkansas and southern Missouri.

• Flood Control: Coordinated reservoir operations that reduce downstream flooding and protect communities
• Water Supply: Reliable water storage for municipal, industrial, and agricultural users
• Water Quality: Environmental protection through careful resource management and regulatory oversight
• Navigation: Maintained waterways that support regional and national commerce
• Hydroelectric Power: Clean, renewable energy generation serving hundreds of thousands of homes

Our lakes store drinking water that supplies numerous communities, and our careful stewardship ensures water quality remains high. Through our regulatory program, we help preserve water quality and protect aquatic ecosystems throughout the district.

A National Leader in Water-Based Recreation

The Little Rock District is a national leader in water-based public recreation, managing nearly 750,000 acres of public lands and water that provide world-class outdoor experiences. Our 138 public parks around our 12 lakes welcome millions of visitors each year, offering diverse recreational opportunities that enhance quality of life and support local economies.

Our lakes offer exceptional opportunities for boating, fishing, camping, hiking, swimming, and wildlife viewing. From family campgrounds to pristine wilderness areas, from world-class bass fishing to scenic hiking trails, our public lands provide something for everyone.

Beyond recreation, these public lands serve as vital wildlife habitat, protect water quality, preserve natural and cultural resources, and provide essential ecosystem services. Our stewardship ensures these resources will be available for future generations to enjoy.

Supporting Regional Commerce

The McClellan-Kerr Arkansas River Navigation System represents one of the most significant inland waterway systems in the United States. Our 308 miles of navigation channel, maintained through 13 locks and dams, connects Arkansas and Oklahoma to the nation's inland waterway network and ultimately to international markets.

• Locks and Dams: 13 navigation structures maintaining a 9-foot navigation channel
• System Length: 308 miles from the Mississippi River to Catoosa, Oklahoma
• Cargo Movement: Millions of tons transported annually
• Cost Efficiency: Waterborne transportation provides significant cost savings compared to other modes
• Environmental Benefits: Reduced highway congestion and lower carbon emissions per ton-mile

Our navigation mission requires year-round maintenance and operation, ensuring safe and reliable passage for commercial tows and recreational boaters alike. This work supports regional economic development, creates jobs, and enhances the competitiveness of American agriculture and industry in global markets.

Renewable Hydroelectric Power

Our seven hydroelectric power plants represent a significant source of clean, renewable energy for the region. These facilities generate enough electricity yearly to supply up to 400,000 households, providing reliable power while producing zero air emissions or carbon dioxide.

Hydroelectric power is one of the cleanest sources of electricity available. By converting the energy of flowing water into electricity, our plants provide baseload power to the regional grid without consuming fossil fuels or producing greenhouse gases. This renewable energy helps reduce dependence on coal and natural gas while providing stable, affordable electricity rates to consumers.

Our power plants are integrated with the flood control and navigation missions of our dams, demonstrating how multipurpose water resource projects can deliver multiple benefits simultaneously. The revenue generated from power sales helps offset the costs of operating and maintaining the entire water resource system.

Protecting Our Natural Resources

Environmental stewardship is woven into every aspect of our mission at the Little Rock District. We manage nearly 750,000 acres of public lands that provide critical habitat for fish, wildlife, and plant species, including several federally listed threatened and endangered species.

• Natural Resources: Management of forests, wetlands, grasslands, and aquatic habitats
• Wildlife Conservation: Protection of threatened and endangered species
• Water Quality: Monitoring and protection through operations and regulatory oversight
• Permit Program: Review of projects affecting waters of the United States
• Cultural Resources: Preservation of archaeological and historical sites
• Partnership Programs: Collaboration with state and federal agencies, tribes, and NGOs

Through our regulatory program administered under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act and Section 10 of the Rivers and Harbors Act, we review thousands of permit applications each year. This work helps preserve wetlands, protect water quality, and ensure that development projects incorporate appropriate environmental safeguards.

Our natural resource managers work daily to balance recreation use, environmental protection, and operational needs. From prescribed burns that maintain healthy ecosystems to invasive species control, from archaeological site protection to wildlife habitat enhancement—we are committed to being responsible stewards of the lands and waters entrusted to our care.

Supporting Our Nation's Defense

Alongside our civil works mission, the Little Rock District plays a vital role in supporting national defense through military construction projects. We design and build facilities for the Army, Air Force, and other military services, ensuring our warfighters have the infrastructure they need to train, live, and maintain readiness.

Our military construction portfolio includes barracks, training facilities, maintenance buildings, airfield improvements, and mission-critical infrastructure at installations throughout our area of responsibility and beyond. We bring the same commitment to excellence, quality, and cost-effectiveness to military construction that we apply to all our work.

• Installation Support: Design and construction for Army and Air Force bases
• Quality Facilities: On-time, on-budget delivery of mission-critical infrastructure
• Rapid Response: Emergency construction and repair capabilities
• Whole-of-Government: Support for other federal agencies and programs
• Technical Excellence: Specialized expertise in military facility requirements

This dual mission—both civil works and military construction—reflects the unique nature of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. We serve both the nation's defense needs and the public interest, bringing engineering excellence to every challenge we face.

Over 140 Years of Service

The Little Rock District was established in 1881, making it one of the oldest continuously operating districts in the Corps of Engineers. For more than 140 years, we have been working to improve navigation, reduce flood damage, generate hydroelectric power, provide water supply, protect the environment, and enhance recreation opportunities throughout Arkansas and southern Missouri.

Our history reflects the changing needs of the nation and the region. From early river improvement projects to the construction of major flood control reservoirs in the mid-20th century, from navigation lock modernization to 21st-century environmental restoration—the Little Rock District has continuously adapted to meet new challenges while maintaining our commitment to excellence.

The projects we built decades ago continue to provide benefits today—preventing floods, generating power, supporting navigation, and providing recreation for millions. Our legacy is measured not just in structures and systems, but in lives protected, communities served, and natural resources preserved for future generations.

As we look to the future, the Little Rock District remains committed to the values that have guided us since 1881: technical excellence, environmental stewardship, fiscal responsibility, and service to the nation and the American people. We are proud to be part of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers—Building Strong®.