Mayflower, Arkansas – Relief is on the horizon for Lake Conway boat dock and boathouse owners as the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission (AGFC) announced an extension to the original repair deadline, offering some breathing room before major restoration work begins on the lake.
Initially, property owners were facing a hard deadline of July 1 to repair or bring their structures up to code. However, the AGFC revealed on Tuesday that the cutoff has been pushed to December 31, giving residents nearly six more months to complete the necessary improvements.
This decision affects hundreds of structures lining Lake Conway’s shoreline, which are being evaluated as part of a larger lake restoration project. AGFC Mayflower District Fisheries Supervisor Nick Feltz confirmed that while most of the docks and boathouses are still in decent condition, a significant number have been marked for concern.
“We’ve checked more than 900 structures on Lake Conway’s shoreline, and most are still in good working order,” Feltz said. “We have 174 that were classified and posted as condemned.”
These 174 condemned structures are the focus of the extended deadline. Once the new December deadline passes, the AGFC will begin removing any docks or boathouses that still fail to meet safety and policy standards. Feltz emphasized that landowners wishing to replace torn-down structures will face additional hurdles.
“We have 174 that were classified and posted as condemned,” he noted. “No structures will be approved to rebuild until 2030.”
That restriction means any dock or boathouse not brought into compliance by the end of the year will be gone for good—at least for the next five years.
The AGFC has been conducting thorough inspections around the lake, aiming to address safety and environmental concerns tied to aging or damaged waterfront structures. Property owners unsure of their dock’s status are encouraged to act quickly and reach out for help.
“We’ve checked more than 900 structures on Lake Conway’s shoreline,” Feltz said, highlighting the extensive review already undertaken.
Lakefront residents can speak directly with staff at Fisheries District 10 by calling 833-338-3636, or they can visit the AGFC office in Mayflower, located just west of the Pierce Creek Access off Arkansas Highway 89. There, officials can clarify the condition of individual structures and explain what repairs are needed to avoid demolition.
This move by AGFC offers a final chance for property owners to preserve their investments before the long-awaited restoration begins. But with no option to rebuild for the next half-decade, the clock is ticking for anyone hoping to keep their place on the lake intact.
