Drought Exposes Submerged Highway 10 in Arkansas
Low water levels at Lake Maumelle have uncovered a stretch of the old Highway 10 roadbed that was flooded in the 1950s.
Updated on Nov. 6, 2026 in Current Conditions
Live Poll
Do you think drought conditions in your area are getting better or worse?
Drought has left Lake Maumelle strikingly low, exposing part of the old Highway 10 roadbed that had been submerged for decades. A content creator documented the exposed roadway in a TikTok video.
Why it matters
The reservoir serves as a drinking-water source, and drought has left it well below normal levels. Recovery is expected to take a long time, meaning the exposed roadway may remain visible for an extended period.
The footage shows two separate exposed stretches of the old Highway 10 roadbed, which was submerged after Lake Maumelle was flooded in the 1950s. Specific reservoir elevation figures and the timeline for refilling were not provided.
The players
Todd the Yak
A content creator who documented the exposed Highway 10 roadway in a TikTok video.
The details
Drought lowered the water level of Lake Maumelle enough to expose a stretch of the old Highway 10 roadway, with a marking still visible on the pavement. Black families who owned farms, homes and community institutions in the rural settlement flooded by the lake lost those properties when the reservoir was created.
Timeline
The 1950s: Lake Maumelle was flooded, submerging Highway 10 for decades.
November 6, 2026: An article documenting the exposed highway during the drought was published.
Seasonal Patterns
Drought-driven exposure of submerged roads has also been documented at Czechia's Orlík reservoir and North Carolina's Lake Townsend, indicating a recurring pattern at reservoirs during dry periods. The Arkansas case fits this pattern, with Lake Maumelle's low water revealing a roadbed flooded in the 1950s.
Residents who rely on Lake Maumelle as a drinking-water source should watch for official updates on water supply conditions during the drought. Visitors to the lake should be aware that exposed roadway and debris may be present along the shoreline.
The takeaway
Drought can reveal hidden landscape history, such as roads and farm sites flooded decades ago. The same low water also signals reduced supply in a reservoir that serves as a drinking-water source.
Further reading
For more on how dry conditions are affecting the state, see Current Conditions in Arkansas.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Cool Down.
Live Poll
Do you think drought conditions in your area are getting better or worse?
