Current conditions and planned renovations lead to dead fish in Lake Conway

FAULKNER COUNTY, Arkansas – Recent conditions at Lake Conway have resulted in dead fish lining the outer edges of the lake.

Officials with the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission said competition for oxygen resulting from lower water levels and high temperatures caused by Lake Conway’s cleanup has led to hundreds of dead fish appearing in the lake.

Randy Zellers, AGFC deputy communications director, said this was inevitable.

“It’s unsightly, I understand that, but it’s part of the process to improve the lake in the long term,” Zellers said.

Jimmy Larker said he had been visiting the lake many times as a child, and since he had not seen the lake during the renovation, he was shocked at what had become of it.

“It’s a waste, so many dead fish,” Larker said. “But I mean, what can you do?”

During the renovation work, catch limits were raised to keep fish loss as low as possible.

Zellers asks the community to remain patient during the “growing pains” of the renovation work, as he acknowledges that the dead fish are unfortunately part of the process.