If you "google" the term "watershed organizations" on the web, you'll find more entries than you can imagine. There are thousands throughout the United States with commitments to promoting and sustaining water quality on rivers and lakes in their region. The Ozarks is no exception and there are many such groups with this shared commitment. From our point of view it would be a good thing if every lake and stream had such an organization with a focus on its watershed.
At this moment there are two new watershed groups being formed in the upper basin of the White River. One is on the Beaver Lake watershed in northwest Arkansas, the other on the Bull Creek watershed in southwest Missouri. These two new groups provide alternate models for how the organizational process gets underway and how they can advance the cause of keeping our water resources wholesome.
The new organization in northwest Arkansas will be known as the Beaver Watershed Alliance and has its genesis in the extensive watershed management study completed last fall for the Northwest Arkansas Council. Alliance purposes will include maintaining a long-term, high-quality drinking water supply for the growing region; working on voluntary programs and projects to promote watershed quality; and fostering communication among the diverse stakeholders in the region.
The Alliance will not be membership based, but will be incorporated as a not-for-profit organization with a representative board of directors and paid staff. An interim board is currently developing by-laws to be submitted with its incorporation papers. The watershed management study done for the Beaver watershed contained a number of recommendations, including the need to form the Alliance. The new organization, being nurtured by the Northwest Arkansas Council, will likely focus on implementing other recommendations in the recent study.
In contrast to the more formal organization being developed in Arkansas, the Bull Creek Association will be an informal group tied together by common interests and concerns related to that stream and its smaller tributaries. Two organizational meetings have been held and rather than being an entity without memberships, this new group will consist of members without a formal organization. In this case our Foundation is serving as the connection and communication link among riparian landowners and other interested citizens in assisting with programs and projects intended to sustain high water quality and promote respect for landowner rights and cooperation in the responsible use and enjoyment of the stream.
Unlike the urban development adjoining Beaver Lake and much of its watershed, Bull Creek is a relatively pristine stream without the usual stresses of urban development. The watershed has three "Conservation Opportunity Areas," designated by the Department of Conservation as worthy of special attention and care. An orientation on the distinctive features of these areas is one of the early field projects for the Association and a number of other programs and projects are being discussed.
Our Foundation has been involved with the establishment of both these new groups, advancing our priority to support and encourage other watershed organizations operating in the Ozarks region. We share the common purpose of improving and sustaining the quality of our streams and lakes and there is ample opportunity for cooperative efforts toward this end. The two new groups will contribute to these common goals following two different, but equally effective, organizational models. We look forward to continuing to be supportive in working with both.
