Water Levels & Drawdown on Lake Catherine

Who Controls Lake Catherine's Water Level

Entergy Arkansas LLC operates Remmel Dam under Federal Energy Regulatory Commission License No. 271 — the Carpenter-Remmel Project. Remmel Dam, completed in 1924, is the oldest of the two dams in the Hot Springs chain and creates Lake Catherine. Eleven miles upstream, Carpenter Dam creates Lake Hamilton. The two lakes are hydraulically connected: water from Lake Hamilton flows through Carpenter Dam releases into the Ouachita River reach between the dams, and Catherine's level is set by the balance between Remmel's generation schedule and upstream inflow.

Under the FERC license, Entergy must release a minimum of 200–400 cubic feet per second continuously from Remmel Dam into the Ouachita River below the dam. This minimum flow requirement exists for fish habitat. In periods of drought, Entergy coordinates water releases from upstream Lake Ouachita through Blakely Dam to help maintain minimum flows.

The Annual Drawdown: Dates, Depth, and What It Looks Like

Every year on approximately November 1, Entergy begins the annual winter drawdown of both Lake Catherine and Lake Hamilton. The standard drawdown depth on Lake Catherine is 3 feet. This is shallower than Lake Hamilton's standard 5-foot drawdown, though the specific depth varies year to year based on vegetation management needs, weather conditions, and other factors.

In a drought year (as occurred in late 2024), Entergy may slow the rate of drawdown to protect minimum downstream flow requirements. The lakes have been drawn down as slowly as 3 inches per day instead of the standard 6 inches per day during drought conditions. During active wet years, drawdown may proceed at the normal pace or faster.

The refill schedule:

• Refill begins between March 1 and March 8 each year.
• The refill rate is approximately 4–6 inches per day.
• Both lakes are scheduled to return to summer pool by March 15 — before spawning activity begins, typically around mid-March.

During winter 2024–2025, both Catherine and Hamilton were lowered 3 feet and remained at drawdown through early March. Buyers who viewed properties in June and closed in January will see a dramatically different lake in February: 3 feet of exposed lakebed, dock ramps sitting on mud, shoreline vegetation visible above the waterline.

Daily Level Fluctuations During Normal Operations

Even outside the drawdown period, Lake Catherine's level fluctuates daily as Entergy generates power through Remmel Dam. The FERC license limits daily fluctuations to 24 inches on Lake Catherine. This is a broader swing than Hamilton's 12-inch daily limit.

In practice, this matters most for properties closest to Remmel Dam. When Entergy is running significant generation flows — particularly during wet periods when they need to pass excess water from the lake system — the lake level near the dam can swing noticeably within a single day. Properties farther up the lake on the upper end (toward the connection with Lake Hamilton's tailrace area) may experience more moderate daily swings because they are less directly affected by Remmel's discharge.

For buyers with very shallow-water docks or with dock ramps that have tight clearance at low water, the 24-inch permitted daily swing is something to verify during pre-purchase due diligence. If your ramp clears by only 18 inches at the posted summer pool elevation, a 24-inch daily drop creates problems.

How Drawdown Compares to Lake Hamilton

Catherine's 3-foot standard drawdown versus Hamilton's 5-foot standard drawdown is meaningful for lakefront owners. The shallower drawdown on Catherine means less exposed lakebed, shorter dock ramp adjustments, and a somewhat less dramatic visual change. However, 3 feet is still 3 feet: docks that sit close to the water at summer pool may still end up beached during drawdown, and the shoreline will look different.

The specific drawdown depth for Catherine in any given year is determined by the same factors that drive Hamilton's decision: aquatic vegetation management needs, shoreline maintenance access requirements, and AGFC consultation on fish spawning impacts. In years when Entergy needs additional drawdown on Catherine for vegetation control, the standard 3 feet may increase. This is announced in advance through Entergy's “Life on the Lakes” email newsletter and their Facebook page at facebook.com/lifeonthelakes.

What Drawdown Means for Your Property

Dock Management

Floating docks must be relocated during drawdown if they would otherwise sit on the exposed lakebed. Entergy does not require a new permit for temporary relocation due to drawdown — just move the dock and return it to its permitted location once the lake refills. The dock must go back to the exact permitted position after refill.

If your dock ramp connects from a permanent shoreline structure (such as a fixed boardwalk or bulkhead) and the drawdown exposes the end of that ramp without water, the ramp itself becomes a trip hazard. Many owners use this window for ramp inspection, wood treatment, and small repairs.

Shoreline Access for Maintenance

The drawdown window is the time when contractors can access the exposed lakebed to do work on bulkheads, seawalls, and lower ramp sections that would normally be submerged. All such work still requires Entergy permits even during drawdown. The application window closes November 30, so applications for drawdown-period construction must be submitted before that date.

The Debris Situation After Refill

When the lake refills in March, it carries everything that accumulated on the exposed lakebed: leaves, limbs, litter, debris. These materials form floating mats that move with wind and current. In a typical spring, the mats are visible for 3–6 weeks before sinking or dispersing. Properties in coves or sheltered areas may accumulate debris mats along their shoreline. Budget for cleanup or simply wait them out — they typically resolve without intervention.

Tracking Lake Levels in Real Time

Entergy provides real-time lake level data through OneRain, Inc., linked from their hydro operations page at entergy.com/operations/hydro/data. Owners and buyers can monitor both Lake Catherine and Lake Hamilton levels continuously. Entergy also sends periodic email updates on lake conditions — sign up through the same page.

For downstream conditions below Remmel Dam (the Catherine tailwater, which flows into the Ouachita River toward Malvern), Entergy publishes a weekly flow release plan via email that outlines planned generation schedules. This information is useful for anglers targeting the trout fishery below Carpenter Dam.

Whitewater and Special Releases

The FERC license includes a provision for whitewater and recreational release flows below Remmel Dam. Entergy provides full-generation flow for three hours on Saturday and Sunday afternoons from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend. Up to four additional special releases per year accommodate emergency training and educational events. These release periods create floatable conditions in the Ouachita River from Remmel Dam to Rockport.

These releases don't significantly affect Lake Catherine itself — the lake level impact is minimal during a 3-hour window — but they do affect the fishing and recreational experience immediately below the dam. The tailwater trout fishery below Carpenter Dam is a separate fishery managed by AGFC; flows through the Carpenter-Remmel system affect both.

What to Ask Before Making an Offer

Before closing on any Lake Catherine lakefront:

• Ask the seller what the dock looked like during last winter's drawdown. Was it sitting on the lakebed, or was it still floating in reduced water?
• Measure (or ask the seller to document) water depth at the dock ramp end at both summer pool and drawdown levels.
• Ask about any debris accumulation issues in the cove or along the specific shoreline during spring refill.
• If you're considering a property with a fixed pier rather than a floating dock, understand how the pier's end height relates to both summer pool and drawdown levels.
• Subscribe to Entergy's hydro operations email updates before closing so you understand what normal operations look like at this specific lake.

The drawdown is not a surprise to any long-term Lake Catherine owner. It's an annual rhythm that is predictable, manageable, and in some ways beneficial — it's the window when shoreline work gets done, vegetation gets controlled, and the lake gets inspected. New buyers who understand it upfront adapt quickly; buyers who discover it post-closing find it disorienting.