Washington – U.S. Senators Blanche Lincoln and Mark Pryor and U.S. Representatives Marion Berry (AR-01), Vic Snyder (AR-02), and Mike Ross (AR-04) today announced $5.1 million for forest service projects in Arkansas. The funds are allocated through the U.S. Department of Agriculture and provided by the American Recovery & Reinvestment Act.
“Arkansans know that our natural resources are some of our state’s greatest treasures. These funds will help restore natural resources while also creating job opportunities. I’m pleased to announce these federal dollars for our state and I’ll continue to do all I can to ensure that Arkansas receives the funding and resources we need to support our communities,” said Lincoln.
“Arkansas’ natural resources help bolster local economies and provide entertainment and pleasure for all Arkansans. These recovery funds will ensure the preservation of our state’s natural resources while helping to create jobs, attract economic development opportunities, and improve forest safety,” Pryor said.
“Arkansans are well aware of how extreme weather can devastate counties across our state,” said Berry. “Much of the funding allocated to the First Congressional District will be used to help counties rebuild after the January ice storm and enhance safety by preparing for future natural disaster risks. These projects will generate jobs and have a positive impact on our state.”
“These Recovery funds will create jobs for forest service projects to improve and enhance our wild lands,” said Snyder. “Effectively managing Arkansas natural resources helps preserve our most precious Natural State.”
“Our natural resources, including our forests, are what set our great state apart from all the rest,” said Ross. “I am pleased to help announce these federal investments, which will not only help save and create jobs by maintaining and protecting our national forests, but also boost research that will develop the tools and knowledge necessary to preserve the beauty of our state. I remain committed to fighting for critical federal investments that preserve our natural resources here in ‘The Natural State.’”
Arkansas’s projects are as follows: Arkansas Fire & Ice
Estimated Funding: $3,600,000 for Wildland Fire Management
Counties: Arkansas, Baxter, Benton, Boone, Carroll, Clay, Cleburne, Conway, Craighead,Crawford, Cross, Franklin, Fulton, Greene, Independence, Izard, Jackson, Johnson, Lawrence, Madison, Mississippi, Newton, Poinsett, Pope, Randolph, Searcy, Sharp, Stone, Van Buren, and Washington
Funds for these programs of work are for projects that will be carried out on state and private lands. Specific projects will be selected by the state.
Southern Research Station: Crossett Experimental Forest Laboratory Renovations
Estimated Funding: $250,000 for Capital Improvement and Maintenance
County: Ashley
This project will provide construction jobs through renovations to the Crossett Experimental Forest Laboratory facility. The project will renovate the 2,027- square-foot building to provide temporary quarters for visiting scientists conducting long-term research on the Crossett site. The project will increase the facility’s energy efficiency through building enhancements and upgrades to the HVAC equipment.
Ice Storm Related Work – Reestablishing Permanent Fire Breaks
Estimated Funding: $321,000 for Wildland Fire Management
Counties: Baxter, Franklin, Newton, Searcy, Stone and Washington
This project will open roads closed by the ice storm in January 2009 to reestablish fire breaks needed to accomplish prescribed burning projects to reduce hazardous fuels. Work is expected to be accomplished by contracting excavators and/or dozers to clear roads of ice-damaged trees and debris across the Ozark and St. Francis National Forests. Project activities help reduce wildfire risks, improve safety, and enhance resource protection.
Ozark National Forest Ice Storm Repair and Historic Structure Deferred Maintenance Estimated Funding: $552,000 for Capital Improvement and Maintenance
Partners: Cass Job Corps Center, Ouachita Job Corps Center, Tribal Agreements (Oklahoma)
Counties: Baxter, Franklin, Newton, Pope, Stone and Washington
This project addresses the highest priority deferred maintenance and repair needs at several recreation areas on the Ozark and St. Francis National Forest and the Koen Federal Building, a historic structure listed on the National Register. Work in the recreation areas includes removal of hazard and damaged trees and associated maintenance and repair of facilities resulting from an extensive ice storm that occurred in January 2009. Work on the Koen building addresses deferred maintenance needs such as rehabilitation of the obsolete electrical and telecom systems, painting, floor covering, and restoration of the parking lot and landscape.
Ice Storm-related Work: Wildfire Suppression
Estimated Funding: $135,000 for Wildland Fire Management
Partners: Cass Job Corps, Ouachita Job Corps, The Nature Conservancy, Native American
Tribes in Oklahoma
Counties: Baxter, Franklin, Newton, Pope, Searcy, Stone and Washington
This project will address severe needs for fuels reduction to mitigate an anticipated extreme fire season due to the impacts of a major ice storm that occurred during the winter of 2009. Work will involve securing additional fire crews, contract equipment, and other resources and sharing fire prevention messages. The increased fuel loading will continue to be an issue for the next several years, and this project will help improve community and firefighter safety and reduce ecological damage.
Koen Experimental Forest Energy and Accessibility Upgrades
Estimated Funding: $300,000 for Capital Improvement and Maintenance
County: Newton
This project will provide construction jobs through energy upgrades to the Henry R. Koen Experimental Forest Workshop facility. The project will renovate the building and install an energy-efficient HVAC system. It will also rehabilitate the heavily used interpretive trail around the Koen administrative site. The improved, handicapped accessible interpretive trail will provide opportunities for the public to better understand the contributions of the Forest Service’s experimental forests and the specific research activities conducted on the Koen Experimental Forest and Ozark-St. Francis National Forest.
