Beaver Lake And Its Watershed 2010 Table of Contents Introduction 4 History of Beaver Lake Development 6 Project Authorization 6 Dam Construction & Water Storage 6 Public Water Suppliers 6 Time Line of Drinking Water Development 7 Beaver Lake Watershed Characteristics 8 Physiography 8 Geology 8 Soils 10 Climate 12 Population 14 Landuse 16 Beaver Lake As A Resource 18 Authorization and Allocation of Water Storage 18 Authority to Reallocate 18 Hydropower Generation 20 Flood Control 21 Recreation 22 Public Water Supply 24 Water Quality Concerns and Streams Listed as Impaired 26 Water Quality Monitoring 27 Subwatersheds 28 Beaver Lake-White River 28 Headwaters-White River 30 Lake Sequoyah-White River 32 Middle Fork-White River 34 Richland Creek 36 War Eagle Creek 38 West Fork-White River 40 Beaver Lake and Its Watershed: Who’s Doing What 42 The following individuals and institutions provided photography used in this publication: Randy Paris, Cheryl Barton, Clifton Eoff, Shiloh Museum of Ozark History and Beaver Water District 2 A Letter To Readers of Beaver Lake and its Watershed From Alan D. Fortenberry, P.E., CEO, Beaver Water District Northwest Arkansas has an ample supply of fresh, clean water in Beaver Lake. The value of this resource cannot be overstated. While many areas of the country are struggling to provide enough water to residents and industries and entering into legal battles over water rights, we enjoy abundance. But what would happen if the water wasn’t there? Isn’t it interesting how many of us take water for granted, water that is necessary for human life and health, water that fuels economic prosperity and defines quality of life in the Ozarks? While it’s true that Beaver Lake is an outstanding resource, we cannot expect it to stay that way if we are not proactive. Beaver Lake and Its Watershed focuses on fundamental facts about the watershed and how the lake is a reflection of activities that occur in the watershed. We want you, the stakeholder, to understand how the quality of the water in the reservoir is dependent upon what is being done in its tributary area, by you, by me, by the industry or business where you work, by your government, by you the property owner. Beaver Lake’s watershed is rapidly changing. Economic forecasters predict that more than 800,000 people will populate Benton and Washington counties by the year 2025, and as many as 1.2 million people will be living in Northwest Arkansas by 2050. With growth comes increased pressure on the watershed and the lake. Forests are cleared to make way for devel- opment. Roads are built to accommodate new subdivisions. More waste water is produced. Storm water runoff increases, as does nonpoint source pollution. The good news is that if we use land in the watershed wisely, we will enjoy Beaver Lake and its blessings for generations to come. But if we’re careless, the quality of the water will suffer and become degraded. Please take the opportunity to review this report and learn about your watershed. You, the stake- holder, can play a part in taking care of Beaver Lake and its watershed. We invite you to help us maintain this resource for our children and grandchildren for years to come. 3 Introduction Beaver Lake is the most upstream reservoir in a series of three U.S. Army Corps of Engi- neers reservoirs on the White River in Arkansas and Missouri (Figure 1). The White River headwaters originate in the Boston Mountains south-southeast of Fayetteville, Arkansas, flow generally north into Beaver Lake and discharge from Beaver Dam into the backwaters of Table Rock Lake. Discharge from Table Rock Lake flows into Lake Taneycomo, which is impounded by ―Power Site Dam‖ under the control of the Empire Electric Company, and then into Bull Shoals, the last of the three Corps of Engineers reservoirs. From there the river flows south- east to the confluence of the White and Mississippi rivers. Other significant Corps of Engi- neers reservoirs on tributaries to the White River are Norfork and Greers Ferry. Beaver Lake is the primary water source for the fastest growing region of Arkansas, provid- ing hydropower generation and water for individuals and industry, as well as recreational op- portunities. The quality of water in the Lake is generally good, but a few areas of concern in- clude expansion of the urban area and agricultural and industrial ac- tivities within the Beaver Lake Watershed. This regional growth has the potential to adversely im- pact the quality of water in tribu- taries of Beaver Lake and the lake itself. Beaver Lake is crucial to meeting the region’s increasing demands for fresh, clean water. Beaver Water District, one of four public water suppliers with- drawing water from the lake, is working with stakeholders through outreach and education programs to preserve water qual- ity and protect this watershed. This publication focuses on fundamental aspects of the watershed and Beaver Lake in order to provide you, the stakeholder, with an under- standing of the natural and human influences on the quantity and quality of the water resources. Figure 1: Location of Beaver Lake Watershed within 4 the White River and Upper White River Watersheds Figure 2: Beaver Lake Watershed includes seven major subwatersheds that encompass more than 764,852 acres (1195 square miles) in Benton, Carroll, Franklin, Madison and Washington counties. 5 Each of the major subwatersheds is discussed separately in this report. History Of Beaver Lake Development Project Authorization Shortly after World War II, Beaver Dam Association Figure 3: Construction of the raw water formed to promote construction of a dam on the intake before Beaver Lake filled, 1960’s. White River southwest of Eureka Springs. In 1954, Congress authorized dam construction for flood control, hydroelectric power, and other beneficial uses. However, the project stalled when the Corps of Engineers did not show a sufficient cost-benefit ratio based on those uses. This is when the Arkansas Congressional delegation took action and pushed for a national Water Supply Act. Passed in 1958, the historic act recognized the federal government has a role in development of water supplies. Congress reauthorized dam construction, with the caveat that local and state interests would pay the additional cost for the reservoir. Meanwhile, Arkansas passed statutes enabling creation of nonprofit regional wa- ter distribution districts. In 1959, Beaver Water District formed. The District then executed agree- ments with the Corps to purchase storage rights for water in Beaver Lake. Dam Construction & Water Storage Dam construction began in 1959. By June of 1966, the lake level reached conservation pool elevation. The conservation pool, from 1077 to 1120.43 feet above mean sea level, is where water is stored for various uses. This pool is shared by hydroelectric power and the drinking water suppliers on Beaver Lake, with hydroelectric using the lion’s share of the water in the pool in a typical peak summer month. Public Water Suppliers Beaver Water District, the second largest drinking water supplier in Arkansas, purchased 136,757 acre feet of storage for water supply in Beaver Lake. Three other water suppliers – Benton-Washington Regional Public Water Authority (a.k.a. Two-Ton), Carroll Boone Water District (CBWD), and Madison County Regional Water District (MCRWD) -- also operate on the lake today. Combined, the four pro- vide water to one in eight Arkansans. 6 Beaver Water District 1 1959 (BWD) forms. Springdale constructs first intake, raw water transmission lines and treatment plant - Joe M. 1966 Steele Facility. Rogers and Bentonville begin using BWD water. 1970 Carroll and Boone Water Districts form. BWD agrees to supply drinking water to Fayette- 1972 ville. Carroll and Boone Water 1975 Districts merge to form 2 CBWD. CBWD begins providing water to Eureka Springs 1982 and Berryville. CBWD begins providing 1985 water to Harrison. 3 4 Two-Ton formed 1992 MCRWD comes online at 3 MGD. Hardy Croxton 1993 Water Treatment Plant goes into service at BWD. MCRWD increases ca- 1998 pacity to 6.4 MGD. Two-Ton serves first 5 customers. CBWD com- 1999 pletes second water treatment plant. New raw water intake 2005 completed at BWD. BWD Hardy Croxton water treatment plant 2006 expanded to 100 million gallons per day. Photos (from top): 1. Construction of original raw water intake, 2. BWD Board Renovation of Steele 2007 of Directors 1971 (from left: Jerome Plant and construction of Steele Plant and New McRoy, Hardy Croxton, Clayton Little, new administration build- Administration building Joe Steele), 3. Inside the plant today, 4. ing at BWD. Expansion 2009 dedicated of treatment facilities at Hardy Croxton at Croxton Plant Dedica- BWD’s Western Corridor Two-Ton. Future tion, and 5. BWD new water intake facil- pipeline and hub ity Figure 4: Time line of drinking water development 7 Beaver Lake Watershed Characteristics Physiography The Beaver Lake Watershed is located in the Ozark Plateaus Province of Northwest Arkansas as shown in Figure 5. The Ozarks Plateaus is comprised of the St. Francois Mountains in east- central Missouri, and three primary plateaus: 1) Salem Plateau, 2) Springfield Pla- teau, and 3) Boston Moun- tains. The White River head- waters originate in the Boston Mountains at an elevation of 2,497 feet above mean sea level and discharge into the White River below Beaver Dam at an elevation of 925 feet (Figure 7). Geology Rocks in the Beaver Lake Wa- tershed consist of relatively flat lying sandstone, lime- stone and shale. The Boston Mountains, in the southern portion of the watershed are dominated by interbedded sandstone and shale, while the Springfield and Salem Figure 5: Ozark Plateaus Province Plateaus within the watershed are characterized by lime- stone and shale.