Operate and maintain public lakes and access areas for use by anglers and boaters

The Arkansas Game & Fish Commission (AGFC) received a $1.322 million Formula Grant from the U.S. Department of the Interior Fish and Wildlife Service under the Sport Fish Restoration program (CFDA 15.605), effective July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2026. This grant funds the operation and maintenance of public fishing and boating facilities throughout Arkansas, including the management of at least 300 public lakes and access areas, 20 levees, dams, and water control structures, and associated infrastructure such as boat ramps, parking areas, courtesy docks, fishing piers, and bank fishing sites.

The project objectives directly support enhanced recreational fishing and boating opportunities by ensuring that public access facilities remain in optimal operational condition. The sustained maintenance and operation of these facilities will preserve the public's ability to access sport fishing and boating resources across the state. The Sport Fish Restoration program funds these activities through excise tax revenue on fishing equipment and motorboat fuel, supporting AGFC's core mission as Arkansas's state wildlife management authority to conserve fish populations and provide public recreational access to aquatic resources.

This includes boating access sites boat ramps parking areas and boat courtesy docks and bank fishing sites including fishing piers bank fish sites and bank fishing parking areas.to fulfill this purpose the lake and access area facilities maintenance and operations project objectives are as followsobjective 1 maintain and operate at least three hundred public lakes and access areas across the state by june 30 2026.objective 2 operate twenty levees dams and water control structures on public lakes across the state by june 30 2026.results or benefits expected the continued maintenance and operation of public fishing and boating facilities throughout the state of arkansas will enhance fishing and boating opportunities. This grant will provide opportunities for the public to enjoy their fishing and boating needs by keeping accesses ramps docks parking areas and associated facilities in working and optimal condition.