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WATERWAY FACTS
(with Map from headwaters to Red River and Map showing locks)
THE OUACHITA RIVER BASIN HAS ITS HEADWATERS IN WESTERN ARKANSAS IN THE OUACHITA MOUNTAINS NEAR MENA. FROM THIS POINT OF BEGINNING IT FLOWS EASTERLY TO HOT SPRINGS, ARKANSAS PROVIDING WATER FOR LAKES OUACHITA, HAMILTON, AND CATHERINE BEFORE TURNING SOUTH TO FLOW THROUGH THE CITY OF CAMDEN, ARKANSAS THAT IS THE HEAD OF NAVIGATION FOR THE OUACHITA-BLACK NAVIGATION PROJECT. FROM CAMDEN IT FLOWS THROUGH THE CITIES OF SMACKOVER/ELDORADO AND CROSSETT, ARKANSAS; MONROE AND COLUMBIA, LOUISIANA TO JONESVILLE, LOUISIANA WHERE IT JOINS THE BLACK RIVER THAT FLOWS INTO THE RED RIVER AT MILE 34 ON THE RED RIVER. THE RED RIVER CONNECTS TO THE GULF INTRACOASTAL WATERWAY BY WAY OF THE ACHALAFIA RIVER OR EASTWARD TO THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER SOME 75 MILES NORTH OF BATON ROUGE AT MILE 304.
THE OUACHITA-BLACK NAVIGATION PROJECT IS 337 MILES LONG FROM THE RED RIVER TO CAMDEN AND HAS FOUR 84’X600’ LOCKS TO PROVIDE YEAR AROUND 9’ DRAFT NAVIGATION. LOCKS FOR THE 9’ CHANNEL WERE COMPLETED IN 1974.
FELSENTHALAND UPPER OUACHITA WILDLIFE REFUGES PROVIDE 65,000 AND 40,500 ACRES OF FISH AND WILDLIFE HABITAT IN ARKANSAS AND LOUISIANA, RESPECTIVELY. The states of Arkansas and Louisiana also have two wildlife preserves connected to the waterway.
In addition to local and state operated parks, the Corps of Engineers has 23 recreational areas adjacent to the Ouachita-Black River and its tributaries.
Cities of Camden and Monroe and numerous industries rely on the water stored upstream as a reliable source of water.
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