Final public information meeting on the Buffalo River Watershed Management Plan

Land use changes from forest to fields, waste produced by large-scale animal factories, aging septic systems, and gravel mining in stream banks contribute to bank erosion along the river, loss of biological diversity, and threaten the health of adjacent communities and national park visitors.

Last year, Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchison directed a committee of state agencies to organize, identify and develop a Watershed Management Plan (WMP) for the Buffalo National River Watershed with the desired outcome of sustaining and improving water quality in the river and its tributaries. Draft WMP recommendations will be presented at the final stakeholders meeting in Jasper, AR on October 12. The meeting is open to the public. A copy of the draft watershed management plan recommendations can be found here.

It is important to come to this meeting and make your voice heard. We must continue to let the state know that the WMP must protect the River’s water quality in this national park.

Event Details

WHAT: Final public information meeting on the Buffalo River Watershed Management Plan

WHEN: Thursday, October 12, 1 - 3:30 p.m.

WHERE: Carroll Electric, 511 E. Court Street, Jasper, AR 72641. On-site parking is available.

WHO: NPCA Members, staff and advocates for the Buffalo National River

CONTACT: There is no need to RSVP, but I would like to know if you plan to attend. Please email me at ejones@npca.org. I have a limited supply of Speak Up for National Park t-shirts and will hold one for you to wear at the meeting.

The goals of the Buffalo National River WMPs are 1) to keep pollutants out of the water (both surface and groundwater), 2) minimize stream bank disturbance, and 3) leave no trace. For more information on the plan and how you can provide feedback and assist in implementation, visit the Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality website here.