When the Arkansas River starts flooding in Central Arkansas, one of the first places hit is the North Little Rock side of the Arkansas River Trail and adjoining parks. High water can make the area dangerous and riding some of the wet, natural surface trails can be bad for them. North Little Rock Parks and Recreation is managing the situation and has sent on the following request and information:
We need to encourage ALL trail users to not go around (and especially not move or tear down) barricades and caution tape we have put in place. They have been placed there for a reason. If they move/remove the barricades/signs/tape then that puts other users at risk who then think the trail/area is open.Please note that action to close roads and trails may happen prior to river level reaching the specified stage based on time and rate of increase. For example, we may go ahead and post signs to close a section of trail (Mayor’s Gate) at 15.5 feet at 1:00 pm knowing the river level is on the rise to about 16+ feet later in the afternoon.F Y I – Areas along the Arkansas River Trail in North Little Rock that will be impacted:At 8 feet – normal level
At 10 feet – water over southern end of Isabella Jo Trail
At 12 feet – water over bridge (Hatfield-McCoy Bridge) between Isabella Jo Trail and Northshore Trail (detour available by using Northshore and Isabella Jo trails)
At 13.5 feet – water over trail by Victory Lake in Burns Park (use Tournament Drive)
At 15 feet – water (about 1”-3”) over trail east of Riverview Park
At 15 feet – water on trail at pavilion at base of Big Dam Bridge at Cooks Landing
At 15.5 feet – water (about 2”+) over trail at west boundary of Burns Park (Mayor’s Gate)
At 15.5 feet – water on turnaround trail at base of Big Dam Bridge at Cooks Landing
At 16 feet – water (about 7”+) over trail at west boundary of Burns Park (Mayor’s Gate) (this portion of trail closed – no detour)
At 16 feet – water over trail east of Hatfield-McCoy Bridge
At 16.5 feet – water (about 2”+) over north end of Isabella Jo Trail (trail closed – use North Shore Trail)
At 17 feet – water over most of trail in Burns Park between Victory Lake and west boundary (use Tournament Drive)
At 17.5 feet – water over portions of Tournament Drive (gates to Tournament Drive closed – trail closed)
At 17.5 feet – water (about 5”+) over Cooks Landing Road between boat ramp and Big Dam Bridge
At 17.5 feet – water in Cooks Landing Road cul-de-sac at base of Big Dam Bridge
At 17.5 feet – water over south end of North Shore Trail
At 18 feet – water over Tournament Drive bridge between Golf Course and Victory Lake
At 18 feet – water over wood bridge connecting Isabella Jo Trail and North Shore Trail
At 18 feet – water over Tournament Drive at Burns Park Dog Park
At 18.5 feet – water (about 10”+) over Cooks Landing Road between boat ramp and Big Dam Bridge (road closed at boat ramp)
At 19 feet – water over Catfish Road and south end of Goalie Road
At 19 feet – water close to road and parking at Shilcotts Bayou (Championship Drive in Burns Park closed at Golf Course)
At 19 feet – water almost over trail at mile marker number 4
At 19.5 feet – water over trail at mile marker number 4 (trail closed between west end of Big Rock Quarry and Big Dam Bridge)
At 20 feet – water at bollards at base of Big Dam Bridge
At 21+ feet – we will have to wait and see
At 22.5 feet – ??? water on Shilcotts Bayou Bridge ???
Here is the current prediction for the rest of the week:
One Response
Thank goodness for the US Army Corps of Engineers that is managing the waters as well as possible. Our dams and other flood risk control systems is working according to design and there’s only so much humans can do. 🙂