Road Trip Day! YEA!
We wanted to check out a few of the areas around the Millwood Dam so away we went!
“Millwood Dam, which impounds Millwood Lake on the Little River, was constructed between 1961 and 1966 as part of a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) project to control flooding on the lower Red River, into which the Little River empties near the town of Fulton (Hempstead County). The lake created by the dam spills across the borders of four counties—Sevier, Little River, Howard, and Hempstead—and provides a variety of recreational opportunities for southwestern Arkansas. The 3.3-mile-long, earthen Millwood Dam is the longest of its kind in Arkansas.
The dam rises eighty-eight feet above the streambed and impounds a 29,200-acre lake. Timber was left alone within a one-mile stretch of the dam, thus providing an ideal habitat for numerous varieties of fish—especially bass, for which Millwood Lake is famous. Within the lake are 20,000 acres of submerged timber, which provides habitat to numerous species of fish, birds, and mammals. Millwood Lake provides drinking water to a number of nearby communities, including Texarkana (Miller County). Companies such as Domtar, a paper and pulp mill, use water from the lake for their operations.
Millwood Lake is also known for housing the 1,380-pound alligator, which was caught in the lake in 2012.”
1380 pound alligator – WOW!
Our first stop was the bird viewing area on the Bluff:
From another lookout area – our campground was on the right.
Lots of water:
The road and railroad crossing the dam plus the lower road on the other side of the dam. There was also a campground there.
The other side of the dam:
The outflow:
Looking downstream:
These birds were just waiting for the fish!
The three tenors – LOL!:
He was intent on watching something:
There are four birds in this picture – this truly is a birder’s paradise:
Hanging around downstream:
Yikees!!!
No, I did not see any alligators. I did not want to see the 1380 pound one either!
The stairs end in water. You cannot see it here but there is a large cement platform at the bottom of the stairs under water:
It truly is flowing fast!
The storm that came thru earlier in the week dumped over 5 inches of water upstream. I am sure that is why the lake is so high.
Flowers on Beard’s Lake – downstream from the dam:
Beard’s Lake:
This was part of Millwood Steamboat Landing – although much of it is under water now. Check out the alligator sign:
We made a side trip to Ashdown to pick up a few things and headed home. I was able to get this shot of our RV in the campground from the dam. What a great site!
Nice enough for a campfire tonight – steak and potatoes – YUM!
The sunset begins:
As I got closer to the water, I saw this guy who joined me for the sunset.
Even he is amazed:
What a wonderful day!
This campground is one of my top 20 for scenery. We would love to stay longer but it is booked for the weekend – Bummer..
Tomorrow we head to Texas so stay tuned and enjoy today.
