NEWS RELEASE                                                                             Thursday, May 25, 2006

As Summer Recreation On Lakes And Streams Increases, Conservation Groups
Oppose Efforts To Weaken Weakened Water Quality Protections

 
As many Arkansans head out for Memorial Day festivities, many will invariably be heading to one of our state's water bodies to canoe, fish, ski, sail and just relax.  A coalition of Arkansas environmental groups is concerned that some of these very waters could be threatened by rules changes now under consideration at the Arkansas Pollution Control and Ecology Commission.
 
Debbie Doss, a spokeswoman for the Arkansas Canoe Club, says It's summertime in Arkansas and we love our streams and lakes, it s part of our birthright.  These developers are attacking part of what it means to be an Arkansan by trying to weaken the protections for our most pristine rivers and lakes.  How terrible would it be to see our most treasured resources destroyed?
 
Developers who want to build a large dam on Lee Creek, a pristine river north of Fort Smith, are seeking to change the rules affecting what are known as Extraordinary Resource Waters.  Conservation groups say that weakening the rules to allow the dams will forever diminish the value of these streams.  The Arkansas Pollution Control and Ecology Commission is considering the rules change and the extended public comment period ends next week on June 2nd.
 
Extraordinary Resource Waters are the most pristine water bodies in Arkansas, created at the end of a long public process in the 1980 s to be protected from degradation.  Of 20,000 stream miles in Arkansas, only 16% are designated extraordinary.  They are Arkansas' most important waters for fishing and recreation as well as for rare and endangered wildlife.  Their economic value for tourism and recreation is worth hundreds of millions to the state s economy.  People from all 50 states and many countries come to Arkansas just to recreate on these streams. 
 
Though the rule change is intended to allow a dam on Lee Creek, it also threatens the Buffalo, Caddo, Cadron, Cossatot, Devils Fork of the Little Red, Illinois Bayou, Saline, Spring and Strawberry Rivers, to name a few.
 
The groups say that instead of weakening regulations, the Arkansas Natural Resources Commission and the Pollution Control and Ecology Commission should create and implement a comprehensive state water plan that protects our remaining streams and provides clean water when and where it truly is needed.  They view the latest proposed rule change as just a sign of more to come.
 
Alice Andrews of the Ozark Society said, There is just no need to gut protections for our rivers and lakes like this.  This proposed change leaves farm ditches more protected than our state s most treasured streams and rivers.  
 
But Andrews does recognize the need for expanding water supplies.  She added that: We need to be proactive about developing clean, affordable water for all of our needs while still protecting the environment and the last few wild places that we've set aside for future generations.  A piecemeal approach like this proposed change keeps communities bickering when we could find common solutions with planning and cooperating.  We have more than enough water to meet our needs, but we need better management.
 
The Arkansas Conservation Partnership, a coalition including groups such as the AR Canoe Club, Audubon Arkansas, Ozark Society, Audubon Society of Central Arkansas, Friends of the North Fork and White River, Arkansas Public Policy Panel and Arkansas Sierra Club.
 
For more information:
Debbie Doss; Arkansas Canoe Club; ddoss@conwaycorp.net;
Alice Andrews; Ozark Society; alice209ok@yahoo.com;
 

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Facts about Arkansas Water:

• Extraordinary Resource Waters, (ERWs). are the purest, raw water bodies in Arkansas.
• Of 20,000 stream miles in Arkansas, only 16 % of those are designated extraordinary and given extra protection.
• These streams and a few lakes are the most important waters for fishing and outdoor recreation.
• Arkansas most rare and endangered wildlife inhabit these waters.
• Special interests are seeking to revise and weaken Regulation 2 which governs Arkansas Surface Water Quality Standards.  There is no need to change Regulation 2; it would weaken protections of our very best streams.
• If the Pollution Control and Ecology Commission adopts the weakened standards, an ordinary ditch will have more protection than the Buffalo, Caddo, Cadron, Cossatot, Devils Fork of the Little Red, Illinois Bayou, Saline, Spring and Strawberry Rivers as well as Lake Ouachita, to name a few.
• Arkansas has more than ample water in existing lakes, reservoirs and the Arkansas Riverto meet the whole state s water needs for decades to come.
• A better solution than another dam on another of our extraordinary streams is communities working together to make the best use of existing water supplies rather than a piece meal approach by the Arkansas Natural Resources Commission.
• People from all 50 states and many countries come to Arkansas just to recreate on our streams, providing millions of dollars in income to the state. In 2005, tourism and recreation added $6.4 billion in economic value to Arkansas. 

Written comments regarding changes in Regulation 2 protecting ERWs must be received no later than June 2 by 4:30 pm.  reg-comment@adeq.state.ar.us.  Regular mail to: Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality, Public Outreach and Assistance Division; P.O. Box 8913; Little Rock, AR 72219-8913

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