City staff presented drone footage of Indian Hills Lakes during a North Little Rock City Council meeting and said state reviewers have recommended removing trees and other vegetation from the lake dams before a formal inspection can be completed.

The footage was narrated by Jeff (presenter), who guided the council and audience around the larger lake, levees and boat launch area near Flint Rock and Edenwood Lane. Council members asked whether seawalls or retaining walls were present; Jeff answered that he saw docks and landscaping but ‘‘No, sir. It’s not,’’ when asked whether there was a seawall.

David (city staff) described the two structures as dams and explained how water moves from the upper lake to the lower lake through spillways and overflow structures. He said, ‘‘That is correct. I refer to them as dams, both dams.’’ He added that the release structures are automatic overflow features rather than manually operated valves.

Why it matters: the presence of mature trees and heavy vegetation on dam slopes can compromise dam integrity and must be addressed before a state inspection, city staff said. The council discussed past cleanup work and the likely cost of full removal. Staff said a recent cleanup in a different location, Lakewood, ‘‘was close to a million dollars’’ for full dam cleanup, and that the city previously spent roughly $20,000 to remove a small number of trees using the North Little Rock Electric tree-trimming contractor. David told council members he could ‘‘get a number’’ for full removal at Indian Hills.

Council members pressed for specifics about where vegetation remained on the slopes. In the presentation the narrator noted woody growth behind tennis courts and on the back slopes of the lower dam; staff confirmed the back slope areas were ‘‘heavily treed and brushed’’ in places and that some trees had already been removed.

The city emphasized that removing vegetation is distinct from repairing a dam: staff said removal addresses root systems that can undermine the slope and that reconstruction would be the costliest step only if the root growth had already damaged the structure.

No formal action was taken during the presentation. Staff said they will obtain cost estimates and further assess the sites so the city can meet the state’s pre‑inspection requirements.

The council viewed the drone footage to better understand the condition of the levees and what would be turned over to the city for maintenance work.