Dock Permits on Lake Catherine: How Entergy's FERC System Works

The Legal Foundation: Why Entergy Controls Every Dock

Lake Catherine was created by Remmel Dam, built in 1924 by Arkansas Power & Light (now Entergy Arkansas). Under FERC License No. 271, Entergy owns the dam, the shoreline, and the land under the lake. The water itself is public. Your lakefront property ends where Entergy's project boundary begins — which typically means somewhere between your deed line and the waterline.

This FERC framework is the same one governing Lake Hamilton, which shares the same Carpenter-Remmel Project license. Lakes Hamilton and Catherine are the only two lakes in the country on this specific FERC project. Everything requiring placement on the lakebed or shoreline — docks, piers, seawalls, swim decks, boat lifts, boardwalks — requires Entergy's written permit before installation. This is not a courtesy filing; it is a federal license requirement.

Entergy Hydro Operations manages this system from their Hot Springs area office. The contact line is 501-844-2148 and the application portal is at entergy.com/hydro.

The Non-Transferability Rule: The Most Critical Fact for Buyers

Dock permits on Lake Catherine are issued to individuals, not to properties. When you buy a Lake Catherine home with an existing dock, the seller's permit does not transfer to you at closing. You cannot step into the seller's permit. You must apply for a new permit in your own name.

The process at ownership change:

• Seller notifies Entergy of the pending sale.
• Buyer orders an inspection of the existing dock by an AHIRB-certified Arkansas home inspector who has completed Entergy's specific training on shoreline facility inspection standards. (Entergy maintains a list of qualified inspectors at entergy.com/hydro.)
• The inspector produces a condition report on the dock's structure, signage, and electrical systems. The inspection cost falls on the buyer: typically $300–$500.
• Any deficiencies noted in the inspection report must be corrected before Entergy will issue a permit in the buyer's name. These corrections are the buyer's expense after closing, though a well-negotiated purchase agreement can make them a seller credit or seller obligation.
• Buyer submits a permit transfer application to Entergy with the inspection report attached.
• Entergy reviews and issues the new permit in the buyer's name.

This process takes time. Budget at least 4–8 weeks post-closing for the permit to be in your name, assuming no major deficiencies. If deficiencies require significant electrical or structural repairs, it can take longer. During this window, the dock technically cannot be used under a valid permit — a fact most buyers don't know until they've already closed.

Frontage and Depth Requirements: The 75-Foot and 7-Foot Rules

Not every Lake Catherine lot qualifies for a dock permit. Entergy applies two minimum requirements for residential dock eligibility:

Frontage Minimum

Properties platted after January 1, 2006 must have at least 75 feet of lake frontage to qualify for a dock permit. Properties platted before January 1, 2006 qualify under the prior minimum of 45 feet. This date is specific to the plat recording, not to when the property was purchased or developed.

In practice, this means older subdivision lots on Lake Catherine that were platted in the 1970s–1990s may qualify for a dock on narrower lots than newer developments. If you're buying in a community where lots are narrow (50–60 feet of frontage), verify the plat date before assuming dock eligibility.

Water Depth Minimum

Entergy requires 7 feet of water depth at the end of the dock ramp (approximately where the boat floats) at normal summer pool elevation. This requirement was established to reduce the number of docks that need to be relocated each winter during the drawdown period. Properties where the water is shallower than 7 feet at that position may still receive permits in some cases, but the dock will require more intensive drawdown management.

Buyers should verify water depth at the dock position during the summer inspection period. If the depth is 6 feet or less at the end of the ramp, discuss this explicitly with Entergy before closing.

What Requires a Permit: The Full List

Any structure or activity on Entergy's project lands or in the lake waters requires a permit. The most common items:

• Boat docks and floating platforms
• Piers and walkways from shore to dock
• Swim decks and inflatable platforms
• Personal watercraft ramps, lifts, and stalls
• Seawalls and bulkheads
• Riprap shoreline protection
• Boat lifts (when outside the permitted slip area)
• Roof or lean-to structures over dock areas
• Dredging and fill operations
• Steps from shoreline to water
• Vegetation removal on Entergy property
• Heat/air exchange piping into the lake
• Water withdrawal systems

Roof coverage over dock slips is permitted with restrictions: the roof may cover the boat slip and associated finger docks up to 6 feet wide. Personal watercraft ramps, lifts, and stalls may not be covered by a roof. New buoys are no longer permitted in residential areas.

The Application Window: You Cannot Apply Year-Round

Applications for new shoreline facilities or activities are accepted only between March 15 and November 30 each year. Entergy does not accept applications during the winter drawdown period. New construction permits are valid for one year.

This timing constraint matters for buyers who close in the fall or winter and want to add or modify a dock. If you close in October and discover you need a new dock or significant modifications, you may wait until March 15 before you can even submit the application. Plan accordingly.

Limited Use Zones: Where Floating Docks Are Prohibited

Entergy designates certain shoreline areas as Limited Use Zones (LUZ) based on environmental sensitivity — fish spawning and nursery areas and wetlands. Floating docks are prohibited within these zones. If you're looking at a property with a lot that sits adjacent to a LUZ, this can affect both dock eligibility and dock type. Verify with Entergy whether any LUZ designations affect your specific parcel before closing.

Large Projects: The FERC Review Track

Routine residential dock permits can be reviewed and issued in-house by Entergy. But more complex projects — multi-family docks, commercial operations, or significant new construction — require external agency review and formal FERC submission before Entergy can issue the permit. This is a 12–18 month process.

The multi-family review track applies to any permit with more than 10 watercraft mooring locations. For single-family residential buyers, in-house review is the norm and typically takes 2–3 months for routine modifications. Moving a dock from one location to another (not just seasonal drawdown relocation) always requires a new permit to be approved before the move.

Entergy vs. Lake Hamilton: Is the Process Different?

The permit framework is identical because both lakes operate under the same FERC License No. 271. The same frontage rules, depth rules, inspection requirements, application windows, and non-transferability rules apply to Lake Catherine as to Lake Hamilton.

There is one notable difference in practice: Lake Catherine has fewer permitted docks in active use than Hamilton, simply because the lake has less residential development. The state park occupies significant shoreline. This means Entergy Shoreline staff are dealing with a smaller active permit base on Catherine, which some buyers have found results in slightly more accessible service response. This is anecdotal — the formal process is the same.

One practical difference: Lake Catherine's FERC-mandated daily fluctuation limit during normal operations is 24 inches — twice the 12-inch limit on Hamilton. This more permissive swing applies especially to areas of the lake nearest Remmel Dam where generation flows cause faster level changes. Buyers on the Catherine shoreline closest to the dam should understand this variability is normal and permitted.

What to Do Before Making an Offer

If a dock is part of your reason for buying a specific Lake Catherine property, complete these steps before submitting an offer:

• Ask the seller for a copy of the current Entergy dock permit. Verify it is in the seller's name and not expired.
• Verify the plat date for the lot to confirm which frontage minimum applies.
• Walk the dock during summer conditions. Estimate water depth at the end of the ramp. If it looks shallow, have it measured.
• Confirm whether the dock is in a Limited Use Zone by asking Entergy directly.
• Contact Entergy Shoreline at 501-844-2148 to confirm there are no outstanding violations or unresolved permit issues on the property.

A dock problem discovered after closing on Lake Catherine is not a quick fix. It is weeks to months of Entergy permit navigation, possible deficiency corrections, and potential periods where the dock cannot be used. The information is all available before you close — ask the questions now.