Public Information Meeting Scheduled for September 11 in Calico Rock to Discuss

A public information meeting has been scheduled for September 11 in Calico Rock by the Arkansas Natural Resources Commission to discuss the development of a voluntary, non‑regulatory Watershed-Based Management Plan for the Middle White River. The meeting will be at the Arkansas Game & Fish Commission North Central Regional Office, 1125 AR 56 Hwy.

It will begin at 1 p.m. and conclude by 3:30. There is no charge to attend.

This is the second public information meeting held regarding the development of the Watershed Management Plan. The first was held in Batesville May 31, and there will be a total of four meetings during the development of the plan.

The purposes of the September 11 Calico Rock meeting will be to:

1. Reiterate the issues raised during the first stakeholder meeting in Batesville;

2. Present the current status and trends in water quality within the Middle White River

watershed;

3. Elicit information from stakeholders on potential voluntary management practices, measures, and actions to address the water quality issues raised in the first meeting; and

4. Describe the next steps in the planning process.

The Middle White River Watershed includes portions of ten counties and extends from the Mountain Home area to near Jacksonport.

The purpose of the watershed management plan is to provide a framework for landowners, communities, and qualifying organizations to voluntarily undertake water quality projects in the watershed and improve their ability to receive grants from ANRC and other sources.

For more information, contact:

ANRC, (501) 682-1611; Allen Brown, Allen.Brown@arkansas.gov or

FTN Associates, Ltd., (501) 225-7779; Terry Horton, twh@ftn-assoc.com.