Leased riparian areas to be restored to protect Illinois watershed

The Morning News

Local News for Northwest Arkansas


State, Federal Government To Lease Land To Protect River

By Doug Thompson
THE MORNING NEWS
ROGERS — More than 20 square miles of land along the Illinois River and its tributaries will be planted with trees, native grasses and other plants under a project launched Tuesday.

The program's goal is to stop 10,000 tons a year of pollutants and sediment from getting into the river, state and federal organizers said. The 15,000-acre, $30 million program will be the largest of its type in Arkansas, by far, said Randy Young, director of the state Natural Resources Commission.
"Northwest Arkansas, growing economic gem that it is, is also cognizant of the need to protect our natural resources," said Gov. Mike Beebe. The governor publicly thanked the Walton Family Foundation for a $1 million contribution to the project.

The Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program is voluntary, organizers said. Landowners can apply to sign 15-year contracts with the U.S. Department of Agriculture for their plots of land along the river and streams.

Cropland and poor quality pastures are sought under the $30 million project. Those lands will be planted with native plants to stem erosion and provide food and shelter to wildlife, organizers said. The contracts will pay an estimated average of $85 per acre annually with a starting bonus amounting to as much as $350 an acre.

"I'm very interested. I'd sign up today if the forms were here," said dairy farmer Bill Haak of Gentry. "This is very farmer friendly and, if you look at the details, you can see that the people who wrote this up have the insight into what will make it work."

"I have grandkids," Haak said when asked why he was interested. "You need another reason than that? Well, this is a chance for farmers to step up to the plate and help preserve water quality."

Oklahoma Attorney General Drew Edmondson is suing Arkansas poultry companies in federal court over pollution in the Illinois River. The case is scheduled for trial Sept. 21.

"We hope this project will help prevent pollution from reaching the waters of the Illinois and its tributaries and support these types of efforts in both states," Edmondson said in a prepared statement about Tuesday's announcement.

The conservation program in Arkansas will match up with a similar one in Oklahoma. The two programs will cover the entire Illinois River watershed, Young said.

Of the $30 million, $24 million will come from a federal appropriation sought and obtained largely through the efforts of 3rd District Rep. John Boozman, R-Rogers, organizers said. Most of the rest will come from a $1.5 million appropriation from the state and in-kind services provided by the state, such as planning for each plot's project by the state Game and Fish Department and other agencies and water quality monitoring by the state Department of Environmental Quality.

Contact Information
Watershed Leases

Those interested in the project can call the Washington County office of the federal Farm Service Agency, 479-521-4520, or the Benton County office, 479-273-2622. Information is also available at www.fsa.usda.gov.

Video from the Fayetteville National Cemetery with Washington County Livestock Auction barn in the background

Please go to
http://www.flickr.com/photos/7295307@N02
to see some of today's photos online. My picasa gigabite is full!

Video from the Fayetteville National Cemetery with Washington County Livestock Auction barn in the background

Please go to
http://www.flickr.com/photos/7295307@N02
to see some of today's photos online. My picasa gigabite is full!

Washington County Democratic Central Committee to meet at 6:00 p.m. Monday, August 17, 2009

David Whitaker sent a message to the members of Washington County Democratic Central Committee.
Subject: August Central Committee Meeting
The Washington County Democratic Central Committee will hold its monthly business meeting at 6:30 pm on Monday, August 17 at the new Homewood Suites (1305 North Palak Drive in Fayetteville). Our guest will be Vicki Thomas, Superintendent of the Fayetteville School District. She will be discussing the upcoming millage election and the new Fayetteville High School.
We'll gather at 6:00 for a half-hour of socializing with refreshments.
Directions
From I-540: Exit 64 to Wedington Road, Highway 16 W and turn left onto Wedington Drive. Turn right onto North Shiloh Drive. Turn left onto North Palak Drive.
From Highway 71: Travel west on North Street (at the new UAMS campus), North Street becomes Wedington Drive at the junction of Garland Avenue/Highway 112. Continue straight crossing over I-540. Turn right onto North Shiloh Drive. Turn left onto North Palak Drive.
Hope to see you all there!
David J. Whitaker, Chairman
Washington County Democratic Central Committee

Quorum Court agenda for meeting at 6 p.m. August 13, 2009

REGULAR MEETING OF THE WASHINGTON COUNTY QUORUM COURT

Thursday, August 13, 2009
6:00 p.m.
Washington County Quorum Court Room


A G E N D A

1. CALL TO ORDER. JUDGE EDWARDS

2. PRAYER AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.

3. ROLL CALL.

4. ADOPTION OF AGENDA. At the beginning of each
meeting, the agenda shall be approved. Any JP may
request an item be added to the agenda subject to
approval of the Quorum Court.

5. APPROVAL OF MINUTES. Approval of the minutes of
the July 9 regular meeting of the Quorum Court meeting. (5.1)

6. A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING JOHN BURROW TO
SOLEMNIZE THE MARRIAGE OF TIM CONKLIN AND
MICHELE BECHHOLD ON OCTOBER 17, 2009, IN
FAYETTEVILLE, ARKANSAS. (6.1) STEVE ZEGA

7. A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING AFTON EMBRY TO
SOLEMNIZE THE MARRIAGE OF MATHEW LEE EMBRY
AND MISTY LEA BALL ON OCTOBER 25, 2009, IN
FAYETTEVILLE, ARKANSAS. (7.1) JOE PATTERSON

8. FINANCE REPORT. (8.1) STEVE ZEGA

9. COUNTY JUDGE’S REPORT. (9.1) JUDGE EDWARDS

10. COMMITTEE REPORTS.

A. Amendments to the Employee Handbook.
The Personnel Committee is recommending
amendments to the Sick Leave policy. Changes
to the Employee Handbook must be approved
by a majority vote of the full Quorum Court. (10.1) MICAH NEAL

11. AN ORDINANCE AMENDING WASHINGTON COUNTY
CODE 11-196 AND 11-198 CONCERNING EXPANSION
OF NONCONFORMING USES. This ordinance is on
first reading and is being brought to the Quorum Court by
JP Candy Clark. (11.1, 11.2) CANDY CLARK

12. AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE WASHINGTON COUNTY
CODE OF ORDINANCE PERTAINING TO POLICIES AND
PROCEDURES REGARDING TRAVEL. This ordinance is on
first reading and is being recommended by the Personnel
Committee. Upon adoption of this ordinance, the Travel Rules
and Regulations for County Employees and Elected Officials
will need to be approved by a majority vote of the full Quorum
Court. (12.1, 12.2) MICAH NEAL

13. OTHER BUSINESS.

14. CITIZEN’S COMMENTS. Fifteen-minute comment period
with a three-minute limit for each individual to comment on
items on the agenda or other items.

15. ADJOURNMENT.

/kb

Special treat along with spaghetti and chicken dinners at Tontitown Grape Festival will be book-signing by Susan Young of Shiloh Museum

"This Little Place: The Founding of Tontitown, Arkansas, 1898-1917" by Susan Young, outreach coordinator at the Shiloh Museum of Ozark History in Springdale, will be available with its writer on hand to sign her book from 4 to 10 p.m. Thursday and Friday.