[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 15 (Tuesday, January 24, 2023)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E47]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          CELEBRATING THE FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY OF DeGRAY LAKE

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                          HON. BRUCE WESTERMAN

                              of arkansas

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, January 24, 2023

  Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the Fiftieth 
Anniversary of the creation of DeGray Lake. The 13,400-acre DeGray Lake 
was created when the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) built DeGray 
Dam on the Caddo River for the purpose of flood control, electricity 
generation, and drinking water supply for the city of Arkadelphia.
  DeGray Lake is vital in the economy of Southwest Arkansas. Thanks to 
the cooperation of USACE and the Arkansas Department of Parks and 
Tourism, DeGray Lake Resort State Park, is responsible for more than 
$36 million in economic activity and hundreds of jobs related to 
tourism in the surrounding area. DeGray Lake provides more than just 
economic and infrastructure benefits to the local populace, however. 
The lake also provides recreational opportunities such as swimming, 
hiking trails, camping, golfing, and horseback riding which are enjoyed 
by many Arkansans. And as we all know, the more time the public spends 
out in nature, the more we realize how critical it is to be good 
stewards of conserving our natural resources and the beauty of places 
like DeGray Lake.
  Mr. Speaker, I thank the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for building 
DeGray Lake to serve the people of Southwest Arkansas and the Arkansas 
Department of Parks and Tourism for its work in helping preserve DeGray 
Lake.

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