**UPDATE (Aug. 12, 2026): Aerial vegetation spraying is scheduled to begin Aug. 14, pending favorable weather conditions and lake pool elevation.**
For more information, visit https://www.mvk.usace.army.mil/Missions/Programs-and-Project-Management/Project-Management/Projects/Arkabutla-Project-Page/.
ARKABULTA, Miss. – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Vicksburg District will conduct an aerial herbicide application to manage woody aquatic vegetation over approximately 5,500 acres of USACE-managed property at Arkabutla Lake.
The aerial application will be performed using broadcast aquatic approved herbicide to treat targeted woody aquatic vegetation inside the lakebed. The contract has been awarded to Provine Helicopter Service from Greenwood, MS. The treatment is expected to begin sometime after August 1st when lake pool elevations and weather conditions provide the most effective application window.
Ongoing interim risk reduction measures at Arkabutla Dam have made this treatment necessary. To reduce pressure on the dam while crews complete critical repairs, officials have kept the lake at a much lower-than-normal level. As a result, thousands of acres of lakebed that were once underwater have remained exposed, creating ideal conditions for aggressive aquatic plants to take root and spread.
Managing this vegetation is a critical component of preparing the reservoir for future operations. If allowed to mature and remain in place as normal pool levels are eventually restored, the vegetation could interfere with the operation, storage, and long-term maintenance of the dam and reservoir. Treating the vegetation before it becomes more established is the safest, most effective, and most economical approach to protecting the project's long-term flood risk management mission.
The herbicide application has been coordinated with the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. All work will be conducted in accordance with applicable local, state, and federal laws and regulations governing herbicide application, safety, equipment, and contractor licensing requirements. The contractor will perform the application in a manner that ensures effective treatment of all targeted vegetation while minimizing impacts to surrounding resources.
This herbicide is slow acting so results will not be immediately visible; however, next spring, when vegetation begins to regrow, the treated lakebed vegetation is not expected to return.
Campgrounds and recreation areas at Arkabutla Lake are expected to remain open during the aerial application. Visitors may notice aircraft operating in the area while spraying is underway, but no widespread closures are anticipated. Check www.recreation.gov for the most current updates regarding reservations and any potential closures.
USACE is committed to responsible stewardship of its public lands while ensuring the continued safe and effective operation of Arkabutla Dam. This vegetation management effort is an important step in maintaining the reservoir's long-term functionality and supporting its flood risk reduction mission.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Vicksburg District is engineering solutions to the nation's toughest challenges while advancing its commitment to building infrastructure, not paperwork. The district delivers vital missions across a 68,000-square-mile area spanning portions of Mississippi, Arkansas, and Louisiana. Its area of responsibility includes nine major river basins and approximately 460 miles of mainline Mississippi River levees, supporting flood risk reduction, navigation, environmental stewardship, and resilient infrastructure for the region.