Ozark-St. Francis National Forests Solicits Cove Lake Recreation Area Concessionaire
The Ozark-St. Francis National Forests are seeking proposals for a Special Use Permit (SUP) to operate and maintain the Cove Lake Recreation Area on the Mt. Magazine Ranger District. Forest Supervisor Dan Olsen announced the solicitation, which offers a business opportunity to manage one campground with 36 campsites, a day-use area featuring 24 picnic units, a swim site with bathhouse, a boat ramp, and a reservable pavilion. The selected concessionaire will be responsible for delivering high-quality public service while overseeing these government-owned recreation facilities.
Interested applicants must review the full prospectus posted on SAM.gov, which includes detailed information about the permit, Forest Service policies, and application procedures. Submissions must include a business plan evaluation fee, one hard copy, and one electronic copy of the application, all received by 4:30 p.m. CST on Monday, December 1, 2025. A site tour is scheduled for Wednesday, October 8, 2025, with RSVPs required by Friday, October 3. Operations under the new permit are expected to begin by January 2027. For more information or to RSVP, contact Matt Pfeifler at matthew.t.pfeifler@usda.gov.
Small Craft Advisory Lifted for Arkansas River; Boaters Urged to Stay Cautious
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has lifted the small craft advisory for the Arkansas River, which is typically issued when river flows exceed 70,000 cubic feet per second. While water levels are receding, officials continue to urge boaters to remain cautious when navigating the river.
Boaters are advised to dress appropriately for weather conditions, check current river flows, file a float plan, wear life jackets, and maintain a safe distance from commercial towboats, which require significant time and distance to stop. Updated river conditions and safety information are available at www.swl-wc.usace.army.mil or through the USACE Little Rock mobile app. Additional recreation updates can be found at www.swl.usace.army.mil and on their Facebook page at facebook.com/littlerockusace.
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