1. Main Norfork lake
channel and Highway 101 bridge
Why Norfork is a Natural
Experience
From almost any spot on the lake you'll think you are in the middle of the Ozark
forest. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers owns a buffer strip of land all around Norfork
Lake. Commonly referred to as "the strip", buildings are not allowed on any part
of this federally owned land.
The location of the strip line
is determined by elevation above sea level, not by a certain distance above the high water
mark. As a result strip property encompasses large areas including every land type from
flats to ridge tops. Buildings can be seen only on hill tops, and you will see few of
those.
The Corps has completed an
extensive assessment of the ecosystems around the lake. They have identified 115 different
Egological Land Types (E.L.T.s) on the strip property surrounding Norfork. Most of the
land is covered by oak-hickory forests with a few pine stands. Of the 32,000 acres of
strip land, 25,000 acres are under Wildlife Management programs. Birds, mammals, and
wildflowers flourish on Corps property. The Corps, in cooperation with the Arkansas
Department of Fish and Game, has planted several food plots on the strip for wildlife.
The strip is public property so
anyone may access it for hiking, fishing, hunting, wildlife viewing, and boating. The
Corps does not allow tree cutting, the use of any motorized vehicle, or campfires on the
strip. For more details phone the Corps office in Mountain Home at 870-425-2700.
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Pristine Ozark
Mountains Vacations on Norfork Lake