War Eagle Creek Stream Barrier Removals

War Eagle Creek (WEC) is the largest tributary to Beaver Lake, drinking water source for 550,000 residents in Northwest Arkansas. Segments of WEC are listed on the 303(d) list for nonattainment due to turbidity and pathogens and twenty-seven Species of Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN) occur in WEC, including two federally protected species. A collaborative partnership between Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, Beaver Watershed Alliance, landowners, nonprofits, state, local governments, and others are working together to remove four steam barriers, including a large dam, to reconnect 434 miles of stream on War Eagle Creek, restore approximately 7,200 linear feet of streambanks, create 4 acres of wetlands, install instream habitat structures, and reduce flood and safety hazards for residents, visitors, and counties. Efforts also include monitoring and providing community services such as conservation education, training, and sharing informative quantitative data on the benefits of dam removals in the central United States.

War Eagle Creek watershed is also under a USDA Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) with $5 million in dedicated funding to landowners and producers in the watershed. Beaver Watershed Alliance is the lead partner and working with 15 partners to achieve goals through the RCPP, which runs from 2023-2027.

The project aims to restore habitat for target species, as well as provide beneficial outcomes for drinking water supplies, watershed function, wildlife, farming, and education.

Read / Download Huntsville Dam Removal Fact Sheet

Read / Download Gar Hole Fact Sheet

View / Download Project Map

Project Partners:

Arkansas Game and Fish Commission

Beaver Watershed Alliance

US Fish and Wildlife Service – Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program

US Fish and Wildlife Service – National Fish Passage Program

Washington County

Madison County

The Nature Conservancy

University of Central Arkansas

The Arkansas Department of Energy and Environment

Beaver Water District  

The City of Huntsville

USDA Natural Resources Conservation Services

Arkansas Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Division

Steve Womack, Arkansas District 3 U.S. Congress Representative

Southeast Aquatic Resources Partnership (SARP) 

Landowners