This morning I headed to Harrisburg, AR for a guided kayak tour on Lake Poinsett. I’ve been on Lake Poinsett a few times, but never in a kayak. So, I was really looking forward to the experience.
Upon arriving, I met the tour guide, Kathy Evans, who is the Park Interpreter as well as the Assistant Superintendent. I was a bit early, so I went down to the boat ramp (see map #1) and got in for a bit of warming up. A few minutes later, Kathy came down to meet me at the ramp. It turns out, I assume due to the holiday weekend, that the tour had an attendance of one…your’s truly. So, we set off on our journey.
As we paddled out into the lake, Kathy began to tell me about the history of the lake and the park. A story I had not heard and turned out to be very interesting. Here’s an excerpt from “Lake Poinsett Provides a Home Away from Home” by Jay Harrod, Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism:
In the late 1950s and early 1960s, several Harrisburg residents envisioned a park where locals and visitors could enjoy picnicking, fishing or camping. The biggest problem, though, was Lake Poinsett did not exist at the time — just a stream, Distress Creek. Spearheading the effort to build a lake was a Harrisburg Rotary Club planning committee, chaired by R.D. Woods.
“There was nothing as far as recreational facilities at that time,” Woods, who has lived in Harrisburg since 1947, said.
The planning committee approached the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, which showed interest in damming Distress Creek. But there were obstacles to overcome. “Nobody had any money…or they didn’t want to spend it here,” Woods said.
Woods will readily admit that friends in politics helped make the lake reality. After months of struggling to secure necessary funds, Dan Portis, a one-time Arkansas Highway Commissioner, suggested Woods pay a visit to someone Portis knew well, Arkansas Governor Orval Faubus. The pair boarded Portis’ plane and flew to the Capitol.
“We got there, and Portis said, ‘So tell [Faubus] your problems,’” Woods said. “I did, and [Faubus] said, ‘I’ll take care of it.’ And he did, and that was that.”
Once the Game and Fish Commission built the lake in 1961, attentions turned to creating a state park. Again, Woods and fellow Rotarian, the late L.K. Collier, an attorney in Harrisburg, answered the call. The two owned much of the land surrounding the newly formed lake and donated 40 acres to the state parks system. But according to Woods, those at the state parks said twice that amount was needed in order to proceed with plans.
“So the community came to us and wanted to know if we’d sell 40 acres,” Woods said. “I think we got $4,000 or something like that. So we sold 40 acres and donated 40 acres.” Subsequent smaller land acquisitions have brought Lake Poinsett’s total acreage to 132 today.
Though many return campers enjoy the sense of community found at the park, many times it’s the scaly creatures that brought them to the park in the first place. Fishing remains the favorite pastime at Poinsett, drawing anglers nearly year-round.
Kathy told me that one of the employees, Jimmy, who I had met earlier in the VIC/Gift Shop actually worked on the dam (see map #4) as a teenager laying sandbags for a small bit of money a day. I, for one, think that’s amazing. I’ve led a bit of a nomad’s life…moving from state to state, city to city, job to job. The idea of staying in one place for so long seems so foreign to me, but I bet it is very fullfilling to be so rooted within a community.
As Kathy was finishing up the history of the lake and park, she spotted a Green Heron (see photo below) off to the left. The heron was running up and down the shore on the fallen trees. I’ve somehow never noticed these birds. They are stunning in the sunlight. As he ran across the trees, his feathers looks as though they were changing from emerald green to a brillant blue. Kathy mentioned that they also have a mohawk of feathers which they will display if they are threatened. I was able to find an image of this display here.
Continuing toward the AGFC public access (see map #2), Kath noticed swallows and Missisippi Kites (see photo below) flying over head. She cleared up a question that I’ve had for a while now. I knew that swallows were the birds responsible for the mud nests under bridges, overpasses and even the nests around homes, but I was wondering if there were several species of swallow or if there were different species that preferred different habitats. Kathy told me that the Cliff Swallow is responsible for the bridge nests and the Barn Swallow is the type found around homes and outbuildings.
She also mentioned that kites are birds of prey, such as hawks and eagles. This family of kites was attempting to lure their young out of their nests. As they circled high above the treetops, they were calling down to their young…encouraging them take their first flight.
The north end of the lake gets a bit shallow, but you are able to clearly see where the original creek flows from (see map #3). Kathy explained that there once was a road which connected one side of the area that is now the lake to the other side of the creek. This road, now submerged, was actually in line with the AGFC public access boat ramp and connected to the point directly across from the boat ramp. A small village with a general store and such was located here, but due to the lake cutting off the most direct route into the village, it soon dwindled away. This area, along with the majority of the shoreline around the east side of the lake is residential.
Arriving back at the park’s boat ramp, we exchanged contact information and got our boats loaded. Kathy mentioned that she is planning to host even more kayaking events, including a Full Moon tour. We are really looking forward to more local kayaking events, especially Full Moon tours. The closest tours of this type are hosted in Central and Southern Arkansas, a bit too far for a moonlight stroll.
I would encourage everyone to visit not only Lake Poinsett State Park, but any Arkansas State Park you have the chance to come across. We have over 50 of them in the state and as Kathy puts it, “we’ve got parks ranging from one acre to thousands of acres…we’ve got a bit of everything”. So, hop in the car, truck, kayak, canoe or hang glider and explore of bit of the Natural State!
Until next weekend (we’re going to Cossatot!), have fun & stay safe!
Waiting at the boat ramp (see map #1) for the kayak tour to start.
Looking back at the boat ramp from the lake. Lake Poinsett is completely (minus the dam) surrounding by beautiful trees. Even in the residential areas, the trees down by the shore have been spared. The scenery around the lake must be amazing in the Fall.
A young red-eared slider watches on as we pass by. I offered him a ride, but he was very happy with his little sunny spot.
Kathy, the Park Interpreter/Assistant Superintendent, spotted some Mississippi Kites up above us just before we got to the AGFC Public Access (see map #2). They were circling high in the sky while calling to their young in the nests below. (Photo courtesy of Wikipedia.org)
A bird I have somehow never noticed before, the Green Heron, was a timid observer of our kayak tour; running up and down the shore on fallen trees. Kathy pointed out how the color of the bird's feathers changes from green to blue as the sun hits him in different ways. I didn't get to see him display his mohawk of feathers...maybe next time. ;) (Photo courtesy of Wikipedia.org)
