Overview
Lake Catherine is a roughly 1,640-acre hydroelectric reservoir on the Ouachita River southeast of Hot Springs, Arkansas. It was created when Remmel Dam was completed in 1924—the first of the two Entergy dams on the river—and is owned and operated by Entergy Arkansas under FERC Project 271. The lake lies immediately downstream of Lake Hamilton and is part of the Hot Springs Diamond Lakes chain below Corps-managed Lake Ouachita.
Catherine is a relatively narrow, riverine lake about 12 miles long with roughly 56 miles of shoreline, averaging near 18 feet deep and reaching about 50 feet in deeper holes. Much of the shoreline remains wooded, and Lake Catherine State Park preserves a large stretch of public forested frontage.
The lake is popular for fishing, paddling, camping, and quieter boating than busier Lake Hamilton, with fisheries managed by the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission. State park facilities, public ramps, and limited marina access serve visitors.
Water levels on Lake Catherine are managed by Entergy around a normal operating target near 304 feet above mean sea level within a band of about 303 to 305 feet. Elevations respond to releases from Lake Hamilton and generation at Remmel Dam, so monitoring current lake levels is helpful for boating, fishing, and dock access.
Current Conditions
Lake Catherine is currently 0.11 feet below full pool and has risen slightly over the past week.
- 7-day trendRisingLatest movement can differ from the seven-day trend.
- 7-day changeDown 0.08 ft
- 30-day changeDown 0.03 ft
- Drought conditionsModerate Drought
About This Lake
Learn how this lake is managed, what affects its water level, and where Lake Insights gets its data.
Lake Catherine is a 1,642-acre reservoir on the Ouachita River managed by Entergy Arkansas.