MORO BAY, Ark. – 4-10-25 – Moro Bay State Park in Bradley County has been temporarily closed due to rising floodwaters from the Ouachita River, according to a public announcement shared Thursday morning.
Park officials reported the river had reached 85 feet at the Bay earlier in the day, with a concerning rise of nearly 3 feet in the past 24 hours. The rapid increase prompted an early evacuation of campers. “That’s unusual,” the notice stated, noting that under typical conditions, the river rises at a rate of only 1 to 1.5 feet per day once it exceeds 80 feet.
The park will reopen once floodwaters recede and conditions are deemed safe.
The National Weather Service is forecasting that the lock just upriver from the park near Thatcher will crest around 94 feet on Sunday. This projection means the river level at Moro Bay could reach between 88 to 90 feet by late Sunday or early Monday.
If that happens, the flood could challenge historical records. The highest river level ever recorded at Moro Bay was 89.95 feet in May of 1968, followed by 89.30 feet in March of 2018.
Officials hope this week’s crest will fall short of those marks.
For those monitoring river conditions, live water level readings are available at:
Updates on the park’s reopening will be provided as conditions change.
