Search
Insights > Lake life: Who is in charge of what?
Lake life: Who is in charge of what?
07/31/2024
When it comes to the popular Arkansas destinations of Lake Hamilton and Lake Catherine, it can be hard to know who to call when there is a problem that needs to be reported.
While Entergy owns and operates the dams that created the lakes about a century ago, it also manages and protects the shorelines from dangerous or unsafe construction of docks, structures and dock debris.
Although Entergy manages the shoreline, the waters themselves fall under several jurisdictions, depending on whatever the issue is that needs to be reported and/or addressed. In some cases, more than one jurisdiction may handle similar calls, so there may be some overlap in responsibilities.
Here is a general list of who is responsible for what when it comes to the local waters:
Call 911 for:
- Emergencies such as accidents, fires, EMS
- Problems detected at the dams, such as structural concerns, leaks, etc.
- Unusual or unexpected flooding of areas, especially on clear days
Garland County Sheriff’s Office/Marine Patrol: 501-622-3666
- ATVs or vehicles being driven in lakebed
- Boating accidents
- Reports of careless and reckless boating
- General boat theft
- Theft of private property
- Boating while intoxicated
- Abandoned or sunken boat
Arkansas Game and Fish Commission: 833-356-0824
- Boating accidents
- Reports of careless and reckless boating
- Boating while intoxicated
- Hunting from the islands, boats or lakebed
Garland County Inspections Department: 501-609-9067 (outside city limits)
- Storm water soil runoff
- Fires in the lakebed
- Yard waste, trees blown (or thrown) into lakebed
City of Hot Springs Utilities 501-623-7473
- Sewage pump station alarms or overflow
Garland County Road Department 501-767-9174 (outside city limits)
- Clogged storm drains, roads with ponding water
Hot Springs Storm Water Division: 501-321-6743 (in city limits)
- Clogged storm drains, roads with ponding water
- Storm water soil runoff/illicit discharge
Arkansas Department of Transportation -- 870-623-8312
- Lights out on the bridges
Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality: 501-682-0744
- Water quality and testing
- Illicit discharges (pool backwashing into water, sewer issues)
Coast Guard auxiliary: 501-762-0337
- Removal of large, woody debris in the navigable channel
Entergy Lakes Management: shoreline@entergy.com or lakepermits@entergy.com
- New construction, remodeling, repair of facilities along the shoreline, in the lake or on Entergy property
- Landscaping and building activity along the shoreline
- Permit transfers for property buyers/sellers
- Questions about inspections of existing facilities
- Lighting, electrical, address signage codes
- Reports of floating dock debris
- Reporting of docks in need of repair
