Beaver Watershed Alliance and partners are continuing to work to improve the War Eagle Creek (WEC) watershed area. The War Eagle Creek watershed supplies 1/3rd of all the water entering Beaver Lake, the source of drinking water for one in five Arkansans, making it an essential area to appreciate, keep clean, and steward. In 2023, a cohort of partners came together to address stream barriers and restoration needs.
Recently, the Alliance was awarded two additional grants to continue efforts to restore and improve War Eagle Creek at the Huntsville dam site and Washington County Rd 526, also known as the “Gar Hole” bridge. Funding provided by the US Fish and Wildlife Service, including a federal grant totaling $300,000 and an award totaling $200,000 from the US Fish and Wildlife Service, National Fish Habitat Partnership, and Southeast Aquatic Resources Partnership (SARP), will support the efforts in the War Eagle Creek watershed.
“This is an exciting time for conservation,” states Becky Roark, Executive Director. “With additonal partners coming on board we will be able to have massive impacts on War Eagle Creek and benefit the people and wildlife that depend on this special stream. We greatly appreciate US Fish and Wildlife, the National Fish Habitat Partnership and SARP for their support and all the great work they are doing to reconnect and restore our nation’s rivers.”
The multiple projects planned, including four barrier removals, stream restoration and in-stream structures will improve habitat for over 27 species of greatest conservation need (SGCN) within the WEC and reconnect approximately 494 miles of stream, including perennial reaches, and downstream networks. Habitat restoration and conservation practices will improve water quality for War Eagle Creek and Beaver Lake, the region’s drinking water supply.
These projects also include outreach and education, with an outreach plan to highlight milestones, feature partnerships, and successes. Educational workshops will be held to inform landowners and the public about watershed restoration, barrier removals, and conservation practices that benefit both water quality and wildlife. Fact sheets and educational materials will be developed, and over 10,000 stakeholders will learn more about War Eagle Creek, the importance of habitat and stream restoration, the challenges of stream barriers, and solutions to address them.
In addition, water quality data will be made available for future projects, and the project will demonstrate a viable model for aquatic organism passage as well as restoration efforts.
These projects will help meet the goals outlined in the Beaver Lake Watershed Protection Strategy. Additional regional strategic plans and goals are in place to address wildlife, water quality, and conservation needs, such as Partners for Fish and Wildlife (PFW) 2022 Strategic Plan.
Thank you to the US Fish and Wildlife Service, National Fish Habitat Partnership (NFHP), and Southeast Aquatic Resources Partnership (SARP) for supporting these impactful projects in the War Eagle Creek watershed.
