The Arkansas Chapter of the Southern Division AFS has been active in addressing environmental issues as they arise throughout the state and nation. Our Environmental Affairs Committee is part of a rapid alert system which works to respond rapidly to environmental concerns.
The Arkansas Chapter is currently
involved in the following issues:
· AR Chapter AFS opposes S.2554, the Water Resources Development Act of 2004 in summer 2004 form Letter
· AR Chapter AFS supports Wallop-Breaux Reauthorization. Resolution Letter
· Environmental Issues at proposed construction site for Bass Pro Shops. Letter
· AR Chapter AFS supports ADEQ Extraordinary Resource Waterbodies. Letter
·· Black Carp Resolution passed 30-11
·
Proposed Bear Creek Impoundment. The
Searcy County Regional Water
District has obtained 401 Water Quality Certification from the Arkansas Dept.
of Environmental Quality for this project, and the
Little Rock District of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is now considering their
request for a 404 permit. This project would significantly reduce the stream
flow of Bear Creek, a major Buffalo River tributary, and it likely violates
the enabling legislation that created the Buffalo National River.
Update
1:
USACE denied permit due to proximity of other adequate water supplies
(i.e. Greers Ferry Lake).
Update 2: Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee has asked the U.S. Army
Corps of
Engineers to reconsider their decision to deny the 404 permit.
In addition,
Searcy County Water District has appealed the 404 permit denial. (Jan.
02, 2001)
Update 3: Dallas Office of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers over rules Little Rock Office and approves 404 permit.
Update 4: Ozark Society files law suit against U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers challenging the issuance of a 404 permit authorizing the construction
of a dam on Bear Creek.
AR Chapter of
AFS EXCOM votes to join lawsuit and contribute $200 to cover prospective costs,
which will be reimbursed if the lawsuit is won. For more information on
the lawsuit - click
here
Update 5: Dallas Office of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers revokes approval of the 404 permit.
·
Federal
Projects on the White River.
The construction and operation of several large dams has significantly
impacted the fisheries resources of the lower White River.
The Chapter passed a resolution objecting to a Corps of Engineers project
to widen the navigational channel to Batesville from 100 to 200 feet and the
depth from six to nine feet deep. This
project could detrimentally affect paddlefish spawning areas and mussel beds
(including the endangered pink mucket). The
Chapter passed a resolution supporting White River system mitigation measures
which would improve fishing boat navigation, increase aquatic invertebrate
communities, trout habitat, and spawning shoal coverage.
The Chapter passed a resolution urging the Corps of Engineers to consider
the combined cumulative impacts of the Grand Prairie Area Demonstration Project,
the Montgomery point Lock and dam, and the White River navigation Project on the
White River basin in the final Grand Area Demonstration Project EIS.
GPADP alternative
·
Involvement
in the Lower Mississippi River Conservation Committee (LMRCC).
The Chapter took a
lead role in lobbying for a LMRCC initiative to organize and coordinate
biological research and management efforts in the Lower Mississippi River Basin.
LMRCC is completing an Aquatic Resource Management Plan for the lower
Mississippi, including a Geographic Information system database.
The Plan deals primarily with the restoration of degraded backwater
habitats.
Other
important issues that the Arkansas Chapter AFS has been involved include:
·
Log
Removal from the Lower Saline River.
Update: Permit was denied by
Arkansas Land Commission. On October 25, 2001, the Natural Resources
Committee of the Commissioner of State Lands decided not to re-advertise a
petition to remove logs from the Saline River. Essentially the petition is
dead until the petitioner re-petitions.
·
Conservation
and Reinvestment Act (CARA). The
American Fisheries Society has worked with the Teaming with Wildlife Committee
for years to secure funding for nongame programs.
Because funds from hunting and fishing license revenues are devoted
primarily to the management of game fish and wildlife, we seek to find funding
sources for the conservation and preservation of nongame and threatened and
endangered species. CARA, a bill
that has been passed in the House of Representatives, would provide a source for
such funding from Outer Continental Shelf oil revenues.
Arkansas would receive several million dollars per year to use for improvements in air and water quality, fish and wildlife habitat
protection, and urban conservation projects. We
will continue to lobby Congress to promote passage of CARA in the U.S. Senate
this year.
·
Crooked
Creek. Crooked
Creek is an exemplary Ozark Mountain stream known for its outstanding smallmouth
bass fishery. It has been heavily impacted by gravel mining.
The Chapter has joined with other conservation organizations to promote
protection and minimize impacts from gravel mining to this stream.
The Chapter passed a resolution encouraging the Governor of Arkansas, the
state legislature, and the Arkansas Department of Pollution Control and Ecology
to include Crooked Creek as an Extraordinary Resource Waterbody.
A bill was introduced in the state legislature, but did not pass.
Recently the Chapter has commented on proposed changes to Regulation 15
(open-cut mining regulation). Most
of these proposed changes will result in more stringent requirements for gravel
mining operations on streams throughout the state.
·
Conservation and Reinvestment Act (CARA, H.R. 701)
Letter 1 Letter
2
additional
links: www.teaming.com
http://energy.senate.gov
www.house.gov/resources/ocs
or contact
International Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies at (202)624-7890
·
Wallop-Breaux
Reauthorization of Motor Fuel Tax. This
congressional authorization transfers motor boat fuel tax funds and small engine
fuel tax funds from the Highway Trust Fund to the National Aquatics Resource
Trust Fund. If this measure is not
regularly reauthorized by Congress, significant reductions to states for aquatic
resource management result.
·
Proposed
impoundments on the South Fork of the Ouachita River.
The chapter opposed
construction of a third dam on the Ouachita River, which would result in adverse
impacts to the mainstream water quality and biota, and could result in
additional adverse alterations to the South Fork ecosystem, which includes the
federally protected Arkansas fatmucket mussel.
Efforts to construct this dam have halted for now, but could re-surface.
·
Proposed
damming of the North Fork, Saline River. The
Chapter opposed the proposed impoundment to construct Lake Avilla near Benton,
Arkansas. Construction of this dam
would violate water quality standards on an Extraordinary Resource Waterbody,
and impact sensitive aquatic species and a quality smallmouth bass fishery.
The Chapter passed a resolution and Chapter members testified at an
Arkansas Pollution Control and Ecology hearing, helping to stop this proposed
dam.
·
Minimum
instream flows. The
Arkansas Soil and Water Conservation Commission (ASWWC) has been designated by
the state legislature as the agency that sets instream flow requirements on
Arkansas streams. The Chapter passed a resolution encouraging ASWCC and the
state legislature to adequately consider the needs of aquatic biota in setting
minimum instream flow requirements. Stream
flow alteration is one of the largest impacts that human activities have on
stream ecosystems.
·
Exotic
Fishes Resolution. The
Chapter recognizes that the diverse assemblage of fish species in the state,
more than 20 of which are considered threatened or endangered, may be impacted
by introduction of exotic species. Chapter
members passed a resolution recommending a stringent procedure for the review of
any future introduction of non-native fish species in Arkansas.
·
Involvement
in the Arkansas River Conservation Committee (ARCC).
Chapter members established the ARCC with Oklahoma Chapter members at the
Joint 1993 AFS meeting in Fort Smith, Arkansas.
The Mission Statement included the protection, enhancement, and wise use
of the fisheries, wildlife, recreational and other aquatic resources of the
Arkansas River Basin. The specific
goals were promoting biological integrity and habitat diversity within the
basin; providing a network for communication among groups interested in
conservation and management of the Arkansas River Basin, and promoting needed
research and management needs. There
is a need to reactivate this committee to promote a comprehensive approach to
the use and management of the Arkansas River
Basin.