Beaver Watershed Alliance Receives Funding for East Fork River Initiatives
The Beaver Watershed Alliance is pleased to announce it has received a donation of $80,000.00 from the Curtis family of Rogers, Arkansas. This contribution is intended to support the Alliance’s conservation initiatives, specifically for stream restoration in the East Fork–White River watershed, and other conservation practices that benefit the watershed.
The East Fork White River, along with the Middle and West Fork White Rivers, are among the major tributaries to the upper portion of Beaver Lake. Beaver Lake serves 1 in 5 Arkansans with drinking water. With increased loss of vegetated stream buffers comes an increased streambank instability and erosion. This erosion increases suspended sediment downstream, which poses a significant risk to surface water intakes. Other practices that can reduce erosion and restore natural systems include riparian habitat restoration, ponds and low-tech erosion control structures. Erosion and sediment are the leading source and cause of water quality pollution in Arkansas and across the nation.
“My late wife grew up on her family’s farm on the river, upstream from Elkins, and we have owned land in the watershed for more than 40 years. I have watched the river rise and fall, and wash good farmland downstream into Beaver Lake. After seeing the stream conservation efforts by the Alliance on the West Fork and Middle Fork, as well as War Eagle Creek, I felt the East Fork could use some funding,” said Mark Curtis.
“Through my work with the Ozark Land Trust, I have observed the success of stream restoration on rivers and creeks in Missouri as well. Hopefully, this donation can assist the Alliance in their conservation work, as the restoration of all the feeder watersheds will help preserve the quality of Beaver Lake water.”
The Alliance expresses their extreme gratitude to Mr. Curtis and the Curtis Family for their contribution to Source Water Protection. For more information about Beaver Watershed Alliance, current initiatives or how to donate, please visit www.beaverwatershedalliance.org or call 479-750-8007.
