Lincoln park: Hunting, camping banned at Lincoln Lake

Hiking trail, new boat ramp available for free day use

Doug Hutchens, Lincoln City Council member, talks about some of the work that has gone on at the lake recently. The lake now has a boat ramp and extended trails. The city is also working on installing a low-water bridge.
Doug Hutchens, Lincoln City Council member, talks about some of the work that has gone on at the lake recently. The lake now has a boat ramp and extended trails. The city is also working on installing a low-water bridge.

— The Lincoln City Council has adopted an ordinance to prohibit camping and hunting at Lincoln Lake for safety reasons and because of problems with littering and vandalism.

City officials said they encourage visitors to continue to use the park for hiking, fishing, rock climbing and mountain bike riding. They just don't want them riding four-wheelers, tearing up the trails, trashing the property and shooting guns.

This 90-acre reservoir, which once served as the city's water supply, is about two miles north of Lincoln and is accessible on its west side from Jackson Highway. Boats powered by trolling motors are allowed on the lake, but the use of gas or diesel engines is prohibited.

Lincoln Mayor Rob Hulse said the decision to ban hunting is because of safety concerns for all of the hikers, fishermen and mountain bike riders at the lake.

The council banned camping at the lake because of the littering and vandalism caused by a few bad actors. The city is not in a position to hire someone full time to oversee the park, Hulse explained.

"There were groups that in the past that picked up after themselves, but there are always groups that are not as courteous," Hulse said.

The ordinance, which was adopted unanimously on Monday, also prohibits:

• Cutting of live trees and plants.

• Horseback riding on the trails.

• Digging for or possession of cultural or historic artifacts.

"These decisions were made to protect what the parks and recreation committee, along with many volunteers have worked so hard to develop," Hulse said. "(Volunteers have) created a really nice area for people who want to hike or mountain bike to come and enjoy. I urge anyone that doesn't know about Lincoln Lake and all it has to offer to come out and visit."

Hulse commended council members Doug Hutchens and Doug Moore for all of their efforts and commitment to this project.

Trailblazer

Hutchens, who serves on the city's parks and recreation committee, decided to run for city council and to get involved at Lincoln Lake after learning that a private developer tried to buy the property from the city. The city turned the property into a park instead of selling it.

Hutchens, an alderman since 2005, said he grew up in Lincoln and used to hike to the lake when he was younger, so he was motivated to help improve it as a recreational area.

Hutchens and other volunteers have developed a trail system around most of the lake for use by hikers or mountain bike riders. The all-terrain vehicles have been banned because they tend to tear up and widen the trails, which causes erosion and other problems.

Hutchens said the city decided to crack down on camping and other activities because it had reached the point where they were hauling out about a truckload of trash every week.

Campfires are not allowed any more because so many people have been cutting down live trees for firewood, even after the ice storm when plenty of dead wood could be found, he said.

The number of visitors to the lake increased while Lake Wedington was closed for during the spring and summer, he said. The lake is a popular recreation spot because of the natural beauty ofthe large rock formations, he said.

"It's like a little Devil's Den," said Hutchens.

Game & Fish helps city with boat ramp

A few year ago city officials began talking with the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission about cooperating on making improvements at the lake and managing the lake's fish population.

The commission funded the construction of a concrete boating ramp this spring after the city made an in-kind contribution by hauling in numerous loads of rock, clay and fill, he said.

Hutchens said the boat ramp area used to be underwater before the city brought in the fill. Once the water levels drops, the city plans to pour a low-water slab to make it easier to access the boating ramp.

A new, steel foot bridge constructed with materials donated by LATCO and R&D Tractor was recently installed to make it easier to cross Beatty Branch, which flows into the lake's west side, near the public entrance of the lake, he said. Moore's Creek flows into the lake's south side.

Ron Moore, district fisheries biologist supervisor for the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, said the cooperative effort to build the boat ramp allows access so that a fish population survey can be completed this spring. He expects the survey to show a healthy population, but if not, more fish can be stocked into the lake.

"This is a good example of how a small city like Lincoln can work together with the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission and get a project done that neither one could do (by themselves)," said Moore. "It's a win-win situation,

He complemented city officials and volunteers for the progress they have made improving the property

"They've done a lot of work there. They really have," said Moore. "That's a really unique lake. It's extremely beautiful. Half the shores are bluffs."

News, Pages 1, 8 on 09/21/2009

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