Northwest Arkansas'
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Northwest Arkansas’ Beaver Lake is the Beaver Lake Watershed drinking water source for Beaver Lake Watershed is a subwatershed of the White River basin, one in eight which is a subwatershed of the Mississippi River basin. Arkansans. Gateway Spider Creek Beaver Bella Vista White River Beaver Pea Ridge Garfield Lake Watershed Mississippi River Benton County Carroll County ARKANSAS Dam Site Eureka Springs Little Flock Avoca Goose Hollow Creek Beaver Lake Watershed is a Bentonville subwatershed of the White River Basin. The White River is a tributary Centerton of the Mississippi River. Rogers BEAVER LAKE- Carroll County WHITE RIVER Madison County Big Clifty Creek Water from the subwatersheds, their Blackburn Highfill Creek Cave Springs tributaries, and Beaver Lowell War Eagle Creek Clifty Creek Lake generally flows in a northerly direction. Benton County Bethel Heights Washington County WAR Elm Springs EAGLE CREEK 265 Tontitown Carroll County Springdale Madison County Clear Creek Brush Creek Hindsville Johnson Lake Fayetteville Glade Creek Mud Creek Goshen Holman Creek Fayetteville Huntsville Sinking Creek Lake Sequoyah Richland Creek Farmington Elkins Wharton Creek Greenland RICHLAND CREEK War Eagle Creek Prairie Grove Rock Creek MIDDLE Shooting Creek Trace Creek LAKE West Fork FORK- Fritz Creek WHITE SEQUOYAH- Kecks Creek RIVER WHITE RIVER Panther Creek Jackson Creek Mill Creek War Eagle Creek London Creek Peach Brook WEST FORK- Crosses Creek Dabney Creek Riley Creek WHITE RIVER E. Greasy Creek St. Paul Newton County Madison County Winslow HEADWATERS- Baldwin Creek Possum Creek WHITE RIVER Madison County Franklin County Washington County Madison County Johnson County Washington County Crawford County Mill Creek Crawford County Franklin County Source: National Resource Conservation Service-Arkansas State Office, Arkansas Watershed Information System: http://watersheds.cast.uark.edu/codes10.html Dam Shiloh Tater Richland Lake Map Scale LEGEND Msm Hill Creek Sequoyah Site COUNTIES ROADS, NATIONAL CITIES POINTS OF MOUNTAINS CREEKS & LAKES DAMS 0 1 2 3 4 www.ar.audubon.org www.bwdh2o.org HIGHWAYS & FORESTS INTEREST STREAMS INTERSTATES Miles Beaver Lake Watershed Our Watershed Beaver Lake Watershed is a subwatershed of the White River basin, The State of the Bird Why is the watershed important? Eco-location and special attributes which is a subwatershed of the Mississippi River Basin, which Caring for the canary in the coal mine orthwest Arkansas’ quality of life and eaver Lake Watershed encompasses more drains 41% of the continental United States. any of Arkansas’ most common and N economic prosperity rely greatly on the B than 766,026 acres (860 square miles) in M beloved birds are declining. Over the last health of Beaver Lake and its watershed. Benton, Franklin, Madison, Carroll, and foundation of sandstones, limestones, and shales with of the White River basin, which is a subwatershed of 40 years, some widespread species have Significant issues, such as bacteriological contami- Washington counties. Beaver Lake provides drinking soil types corresponding to these parent materials. the Mississippi River Basin, which drains 41% of the decreased by over 60%. These dramatic declines nation and increasing organics, indicate degra- water for one in eight Arkansans, over 350,000 people, Regional soils tend to be classified as “poor” in their continental United States. are attributed to the loss of healthy grasslands, dation of the lake. This map provides history and serving Northwest Arkansas homes, businesses, and ability to uptake and process nutrients. Beaver Lake is home to many fish species, forests, and wetlands from multiple environmental background on the lake and its watershed, as well industries. The underground “karst” landscape (caves, including the large mouth bass. threats such as urban sprawl, energy development, as information about how existing and developing Beaver Lake is the first of four impoundments seeps, and sinkholes) reinforces the need to take special the spread of industrialized agriculture, and global land uses create the potential for degradation. The on the White River System, followed by Table Rock care when planning how and where to locate septic warming. map also highlights some strategies and best man- Lake (in south-central Missouri), Lake Taneycomo, tanks, neighborhoods, and parking lots. Groundwater All birds are like canaries in a coal mine; agement practices to address these concerns. Please Bird’s eye view of and Bull Shoals Lake (in north-central Arkansas). The movement in karst can cover hundreds of feet in one they are indicators of environmental health. The visit the websites mentioned for additional informa- beautiful Beaver Lake White River then flows southeast through the Arkansas day, making nearby wells, springs, and unique cave decline of once common birds tells us that our tion. Let’s start the dialogue about our watershed Photo courtesy of Clifton Eoff Delta before joining the mighty Mississippi River in its ecosystems particularly susceptible to contamination. environment is not as healthy as it once was. But www.bwdh2o.org Photo courtesy of Robert Herron now so that we have good quality water in Beaver course to the Gulf of Mexico. What takes place in one part of the watershed has an because these birds are still widespread, it is not too Water can move quickly through karst terrain. Lake for years to come. Spanning the Springfield Plateau and effect upstream, downstream, and underground. late to do something about it. Illustration courtesy of Mark Raithel, Missouri Department of Conservation. www.ar.audubon.org Boston Mountains, the Beaver Lake Watershed has a Beaver Lake Watershed is a subwatershed Large Mouth Bass The two species showcased here are found Photo courtesy of the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation in the Beaver Lake Watershed but are declining across Arkansas. Learn what you can do to help. Baltimore Orioles (Icterus galbula) are often Homeowner Best Management Practices seen singing, feeding, and nesting in open woodlands, Management Measures for Beaver Lake Watershed wooded edges, and wooded riparian areas, yet their How can you help keep our watershed healthy? numbers have declined by 81%. Protect these birds and your environment by keeping riparian areas on’t over water your lawn. Cover piles of Use a commercial car wash that properly Conversion of Vegetated Landscape Agricultural Nonpoint Pollution forested, managing pesticide drift so it doesn’t kill dirt or mulch being used in landscaping recycles and treats wastewater or wash your car on trees bordering fields, and supporting sustainable D to Nonporous Surface Improper management of livestock and projects. Contact county extension for a gravel, grass or other permeable surfaces so that the forestry practices. When vegetation is replaced by pavement or poultry waste can contribute to excessive nutrients, free or low-cost soil test and take advantage of fer- water infiltrates into the ground. The Prothonotary, pronounced “pro-thon- rooftops, less water infiltrates or “soaks in” to the organic matter, and pathogens to our streams and res- tilizer recommendations. Pump your septic system. Leaking and atary,” (Protonotaria citrea) Warbler, locally known as soil and more runs off. The result is increased peak ervoir. The Arkansas Natural Resources Commission Plant a rain garden with vegetation that poorly maintained septic systems release nutrients the “swamp canary,” lives in wooded wetlands, river flows in ditches and streams and reduced minimum (ANRC) has recently imple- increases infiltration and helps filter pollutants, such that can be picked up by storm water and discharged bottoms, and sloughs across the state. Populations flow during drought, which can lead to erosion and mented regulations designed as nutrients and metals, from runoff water. Install a into nearby water bodies. have declined by 85% due to loss of bottomland sedimentation. When runoff flows across a vegetated to minimize pollution from rain barrel at your home and collect rainwater to use Collect and dispose of pet waste along hardwood forests, changes to hydrology caused by surface, sediment settles and pollutants are removed. these facilities. Manage- for lawn and garden watering. with garbage that’s going to the landfill. stream channelization, and removal of dead trees that Management measures include maintaining adequate ment measures include fully Make sure down spouts on the rain gut- provide nest cavities. Ensure that future generations open, natural, and green space; encouraging low impact implementing these regula- ters of your house are turned so they discharge onto Photo by Cory Holbert enjoy this bird by protecting riparian areas from development; encouraging use of porous pavements; tions to provide protection to the lawn, not onto paved surfaces. logging and pesticides, enrolling marginal farmland Photo courtesy of Robert Herron reducing street widths; encouraging greenways; and Beaver Lake and to farmers concerned with managing Dispose of harmful liquids, such as old in the Wetland Reserve Program, and leaving dead promoting buildings concentrated together (cluster agricultural resources wisely. paint and pesticides, during a household hazardous trees where they stand. waste collection. Don’t pour hazardous materials development). down the drain or the toilet. Roads and Ditches According to a 2003 study of the West Fork of the Photo by Cory Holbert Construction Sites Construction sites may White River, the second largest contributor