Recreation

The half-mile Eagle Watch Nature Trail leads to two pavilions along the lake in an area that is a favorite for the eagles. The trail and original pavilion were built in 1999 on 65 acres of Flint Creek Power Plant property by plant employees and Gentry Boy Scout Troop 34. A second pavilion was added in 2016. Over the years, volunteers from local 4-H, FFA, Boy Scouts, Cub Scouts, Girl Scouts, schools and other groups have contributed time, skills and enthusiasm to Eagle Watch Nature Trail. The power plant has an active outdoor education program for local school children and popular Earth Day events. SWEPCO's Eagle Watch and Nature Trail provides free year-round public access to the diverse habitat and wildlife at power plant site near Gentry, Ark.

The 528-megawatt, coal-fueled Flint Creek Power Plant has been a mainstay of reliable and affordable power generation in fast-growing Northwest Arkansas for more than 35 years. SWEPCO Lake is popular, in part, for the sport fishing it provides. As water in the man-made 500-acre SWEPCO Lake cools the plant, it stays plenty warm for Florida bass, crappie and other species. This means year-round fishing for area anglers – and an abundant food supply for the magnificent American bald eagles that take up residence each winter.

The eagles start arriving in October and spend the winter at SWEPCO Lake – fishing the reservoir and loafing in the trees. In March, the eagles return north to their nesting grounds. The presence of the American bald eagles at Flint Creek is part of a national conservation success story. After decades of public and private protection efforts, the Department of the Interior announced the removal of the bald eagle from the Endangered-Species List in June 2007. In a news story about the announcement, an Audubon Arkansas official noted that bald eagles are a common sight in the state, especially at Gentry, where warm water from the SWEPCO power plant attracts hundreds of birds to the lake each winter.

Although wintering bald eagles are the main attraction, many of the 144 bird species identified at the site also can be seen. Mammals include foxes, deer and beaver. Reptiles and amphibians include various species of lizards, turtles, snakes, toads and frogs.

SWEPCO has worked on its wildlife habitat projects with the Northwest Arkansas Audubon Society, Arkansas Game and Fish Commission and area universities.

Approximately 700 acres of the plant's 1,600 acres are designated as wildlife habitat. Habitat enhancement projects include nesting boxes for numerous bird species, bat boxes, a butterfly garden, and planting of native grasses, wildflowers, trees and food plots.