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Pack and Paddle |
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Pack and Paddle |
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BY JOHN HEUSTON
"Somebody said you could answer a question for me," said the
unknown voice on the phone."My wife and I moved to Arkansas recently and we've been
enjoying some family outings at Buffalo National River. At a point
overlooking the river at Buffalo Point, there is a metal sign with a wonderful memorial to
a little boy. Who was this boy, Warren Mallory Johnston?"
I've had several phone calls like that one in recent years.
So, I briefly told him the story. It's a story that every person who draws strength and
renewal from a sojourn in the Buffalo River Country needs to
know.
Why? Because the tragic death of my little 8-year old
friend Warren and his mother, Mimi, in the late summer of 1964, set in motion a series of
actions that played a key role in saving the Buffalo River country from being submerged
beneath proposed Army Engineer"flood control" reservoirs at Gilbert and Lone
Rock. Otherwise, there might not have been any" little corners of this earth put
aside by nature to be discovered by and to bring joy to little boys" in the valley of
the Buffalo. Here's why.
Warren is the late son of H. Charles (Charley) Johnston,
Jr., a prominent Little Rock businessman who had floated and fished the Buffalo River for
many years and wanted to see the river and its unique environs
saved from"dam-nation." As a youngster, Charley and his family had enjoyed
vacation stays in the old cabins at Buffalo River State Park. He wanted Warren and
his brother, David, to also be able to enjoy such outdoor experiences, and they did
--fishing, swimming, and exploring all the hidden "hollers" that their father
knew so well. During the time of Johnston's own boyhood adventures at the state park, many
of the roads leading to it were unpaved and, as he puts it," -- you had to REALLY
want to go to Buffalo River State Park!" These adventures at the park had a lasting
impression on Johnston.
Johnston was also a friend of Ozark native Dr. Neil Compton
of Bentonville, who formed the Ozark Society To Save The Buffalo River in May 1962 a
title later mercifully shortened to simply The Ozark Society. However, Compton soon
realized it was a long drive from Northwest Arkansas to the seat of political power at
Little Rock, so Johnston was enlisted to represent the fledgling Ozark Society's
operations in central Arkansas, especially when the Legislature was in session. Johnston
and his associates eventually organized what was to become the Society's first chapter
outside of Fayetteville, now known as the Pulaski Chapter.
The formation of the Ozark Society proved to be an exciting
and educational experience for many Arkansans and their children. A native of the
Ozarks and an avid hiker and 4X4 Scout driver, Dr. Compton regularly four-wheeled us into
remote hollows, abandoned pioneer settlements, and led us on hikes to caves and bluff
shelters that the general public didn't know existed. Warren was one of the many
youngsters who participated in these outings.
At that time, I had yet to experience parenthood that
full time job for which you get no advance training. Keeping up with Warren was a
challenge. He was a tousle-headed, rock-hopping tornado, with a question to ask about
everything he encountered! In brief, he was a typical youngster.
On one Ozark Society outing, we were exploring the
outskirts of the old zinc-mining town of Rush on the Buffalo River when we found an
abandoned one-room school building, complete with school desks, blackboards and chalk!
Warren bounded from desk to desk with enthusiasm. The room looked as though the school
children had just left one day and never returned! He was fascinated with this one-room
school that was so much different from his own.
Warren could also paddle a canoe by himself and he loved to
fish. Charley and I arrived at the Mulberry River one day only to find it too low for good
floating. So we moved further downstream to one of the larger holes of water in search of
smallmouth bass. It wasn't long before Warren had hooked one of these scrappy bronzed
bombers, an experience he cherished. Talk about youthful joy! I know it strengthened my
resolve that what few of our mountain streams we have left in the Mid-South should remain
free-flowing so that in the future other youngsters can enjoy this type of incomparable
river-fishing experience. Every child should have that
opportunity.
The news of Warren's untimely death in what Dr. Compton
correctly termed an"unspeakable tragedy" was a hard blow to our close-knit Ozark
Society group. Details are not necessary. Our hearts went out to Charley. He dropped out
of sight for a while, but returned in time to testify at the all-important second Army
Corps of Engineers' public hearing on Gilbert Dam held at Marshall in 1964.
Fate moves in mysterious ways. While dining at the old
dining hall at Buffalo River State Park, the site of many early Ozark Society gatherings,
Johnston gazed out across the Buffalo River to see something he'd never seen before.
Roads! To his amazement, he could see signs of new roads being bulldozed across the river
through some of his favorite places, along with utility poles and other signs of pending
development.
"What's going on over there, Delos?" Johnston
asked veteran Park Superintendent Delos Dodd."I understand some fellow is going to
build a housing development and retirement place over there," Dodd replied. Johnston
was amazed, and outraged. It had never occurred to any of us that the state did not own
the land on the opposite side of the river from the park! Years ago when the state park
had been established, the area was so remote that it
probably wasn't considered necessary to protect the park's view shed.
This development scare underscored the need for National
Park Service protection of the Buffalo River corridor to protect the river from being
"loved to death" and eventually degraded by excessive development. This event
was just a tiny example of the numerous commercial development schemes that were just
waiting in the wings in the event the Buffalo National River effort failed!
The States Parks Commission, also dismayed and embarrassed
by this turn of events, tried to raise the $30,000 required to buy the developer out, but
fell short of the amount needed. Time was running out. Construction was poised to begin
again.
That's when Charley Johnston stepped in.
His gift of $5,000, all of the insurance money from Warren
Mallory's death, allowed the Commission to purchase the land with the box canyon, the
waterfalls, and the springs. After all, there are other little boys, and
girls, that need places to explore.
All Johnston asked was that the state place a memorial
there for his beloved son, the one you see there today, by the historic old dining hall,
written in his own words.
Now consider this scenario: The Battle for the Buffalo
River was farfrom a done deal in 1965. What would have happened if Charley Johnston had
not bridged that financial gap for the state and this housing project would have been
built as planned with others sure to follow? The National Park Service had already made
as many concessions as they were comfortable with for existing riverside developments that
had been built long before the national river was considered (Ponca, Gilbert, Rush for
examples)
A modern housing project with no historic value, plunked
down in the middle of a proposed"national river" would have given the pro-dam
forces a powerful argument that the river corridor was no longer special and worthy
of preservation. It could have been the proverbial straw that broke the camel's back and
caused the NPS to back away from"national river" status. Think about that.
The next time you pass by our little friend's memorial, put
a flower at its base. He may well have saved the Queen of Ozark Rivers from destruction.
He deserves so much more than just a name on a sheet of metal; he deserves a place in our
hearts.
CONSERVATION OBSERVATIONS THIS WILL COME UP FOR A VOTE IN LATE OCTOBER, SO
WE HAVE A REAL ISSUE FOR A CHANGE.
BY PAUL MEANS
The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge is a long way from our part of the world and the
debate is at a national level between the President, big oil companies, and Congress. We
might wonder if Ozark Society members can really have much influence on the outcome. Well
don't wonder any longer because we can.
Senator Blanche Lincoln of Arkansas is one of the key votes in the Senate.
The House of Representatives has already voted to open the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge
(ANWR) to oil drilling. This leaves the fate of this incredible natural area in the hands
of a few senators who have not yet committed where they stand on this issue. We need to
help convince Senator Lincoln to conserve ANWR. If you are not familiar with ANWR, there
is an excellent article in the August issue of National Geographic. After reading it and
looking at the pictures, you will be ready to help conserve this natural area.
The big oil companies have filled the Senators offices with all kinds of misleading
information about drilling for oil in ANWR. They claim the oil from ANWR would help lower
gas prices, solve the California electricity crisis, and bring us energy independence from
the Middle East.
Here are a few facts:
* The U.S. Geological Survey reported that it would take ten years before oil from ANWR
would reach the lower 48 states and it would never provide more than 2% of America's
yearly demand for oil.
* Raising the fuel efficiency of cars and trucks by less than one mile per gallon would
save the same amount of oil that could be produced from ANWR.
* If the goal of drilling for oil in ANWR is to increase our domestic supply, we should
stop exporting it. The U.S. actually exports oil from Alaska's north slope to South Korea,
China and Japan. In 1999, the U.S. exported more than 27 million barrels of oil to these
countries.
There are many ways to address the Nation's supply of oil and still conserve ANWR in a
natural state.
Please write a letter to Senator Lincoln telling her these facts and urging her to vote
against drilling for oil in ANWR. Her address is:
Senator Blanche Lincoln
355 Dirksen Office Bldg.
Washington, D.C. 20510
If you don't have time to write, please call her Little Rock office at 501-375-2993. Tell
the receptionist you are calling to leave Senator Lincoln a message urging her to vote
against drilling for oil in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Be sure to leave your
name and also your hometown.
WE HAVE A CHANCE TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE, PLEASE CONTACT SENATOR LINCOLN.
COOLING IT IN COLORADO
BY KAREN PITTS AND MARIAN HOWARD
With the thermometer flirting around the century mark in Louisiana, Arkansas, and
Missouri, sixty-six Ozark Society members packed up and headed out west for a week-long
adventure in the Rocky Mountains.
Once again, we stayed at Cascade Campground (elev. 8,900 feet) in the Collegiate Peaks
Wilderness Area between Salida and Buena Vista, where the daytime temperatures barely
reached 80 degrees and the
nights were in the low 50's.
The three kitchens were headed up by Bayou Chapter members Clay & Karen Peninger
(Kitchen A), David & Karen Pitts (Kitchen B), and Dick & Judy Davis (Kitchen C).
These folks spent countless hours before, during, and after the trip making sure everyone
had plenty of food to fuel them for the week's adventures. Special kudos are due David,
who was the Master Organizer of this huge undertaking!
Bear
problems did exist at the campground, but not for the Ozark bunch! We learned from last
year's"Close Encounters" to pack up ALL food and place it in vehicles after the
nighttime meal. A group of high school and college kids in the campground provided us with
a glimpse of what we faced last year. They were not so careful in packing up their food at
night when they went to bed! About 4 o'clock one morning, the bears ravaged their campsite
and SHOOED them away! They packed into their cars and drove off and did not return for a
few hours, well after daylight.
As
experience is definitely the best teacher, we did not have that problem again!
Our
rafting experiences consisted of Brown's Canyon on Monday and Thursday and the Royal Gorge
of the Arkansas River on Tuesday and Friday. The raft captains did a wonderful job, even
though it was the first time some of them had guided a raft through the mighty waters of
the Arkansas River! Our sincere appreciation goes out to each of them for leading these
expeditions.
A
special"guts" or"nuts" award is due Rusty Mills for running the canyon
in an open boat! He admitted that his favorite rapid was Zoom Flume because he got to
paddle and swim! Rusty's daughters, Ranie and Sarah, experienced their first rafting trip
and loved every minute of it!
On
Wednesday, l6 brave souls left camp at 6:30 a.m. to tackle the strenuous climb to the top
of 14,000-foot Mt. Princeton. They left that early so they would be off the mountain by
noon, which is when thunderstorms typically hit. And they were successful!
While
these folks were attacking the mountain, Bayou Chapter members Clay & Karen Peninger,
Jack Land and Marian Howard hopped on their mountain bikes for a grueling ride in
Castlerock Gulch. And, despite a flat tire, not being able to shift to a low enough gear
on the uphill climbs that we thought would never end, and a mean-looking snake in the
middle of the road, we all managed to make it back to camp in one piece.
There
are lots of fantastic hiking trails in the area. A popular hike was the Alpine Tunnel
Trail, which was 3 miles along an old railroad track up to a spectacular view. Marmots and
chipmunks accompanied us every step of the way. Wildflowers were at their peak!
Columbines, Indian Paintbrush, Fairy Trumpets, Chiming Bells, larkspur, Monkshood and
Yarrow were abundant.
Another beautiful hike in the area is the Kroenke Lake Trail. It's a 4-mile hike up to an
alpine lake with rugged bald mountains and snow-capped glaciers surrounding it. Definitely
a stairway to heaven!
On
Saturday morning, Ozark Society members reluctantly packed up all their stuff and headed
back home. Back to the sweltering heat they managed to escape for one action-packed,
invigorating week in the Colorado Rockies of the Great American West. Who's ready for a
return trip?
SEARCHING FOR THE ANCIENT RESIDENTS OF BANDELIER
Nine Ozark Society volunteers had an opportunity to pursue a
truly unique"vacation" at Bandelier National Monument in New Mexico when they
volunteered to help National Park Service archeologist David Hayes locate and survey
archeological sites throughout the Bandelier backcountry. And they got paid for it, sort
of, to the tune of $7 a day to help cover their food expenses!
This opportunity to work at Bandelier was brought to their
attention by David and Laura Timby of Leslie, who are old friends of Hayes, the former
archeologist at Buffalo National River (David was the guy who taught us to use
the"throwing stick" at Mountain View a few years back).
In addition to David and Laura, the volunteers were Mike and
Betty Brown of Rogers, Alice Andrews of Boxley, Bob and Melba James of Little Rock, Dave
Gruenewald of Little Rock, and Martha Velvin of Maumelle.
"Our duties consisted of locating sites inhabited by the
ancient Pueblos 10,000 to 12,000 years ago," Velvin recalled."These sites had
been located previously, but information is required to be updated periodically. The sites
had, or were supposed to have, a metal stake with an identifying number. When a site was
located, using GPS units, a four-page list was completed to verify or correct information.
Our job was to determine the condition of the site, and whether any danger to it (such as
fire, erosion, or human interference) existed. We also looked for artifacts, such as pot
shards, obsidian, or other evidence of past human habitation."
Laura Timby stated that,"This job may sound easy, but if you
have ever heard of the proverbial needle in a haystack then you have a pretty good idea of
what we were up against."
"Using directions anywhere from 10 to 20 years old, and an
Army issue GPS, we traversed mesa tops, canyons and cliffs in search of the designated
sites," Timby said."Of course the scenery was breathtaking, and the diversity of
Bandelier was unbelievable. There were beautiful wildflowers everywhere and the air was
perfumed with the sweet smell of the Ponderosa Pine.
"For excitement, several in our group had the opportunity to see
bears close up, and one day a huge rattlesnake surprised all of us, as it lay stretched
across the trail."
Timby said that NPS host David Hayes" was a joy to work with
and made every effort to supply us with our every need. We camped in the main campground
and had access to showers and laundry. He even volunteered to do our grocery shopping for
us and then invited us out to his home in Santa Fe one evening for a cookout. What a great
guy!"
In addition to their Ozark Society group, coincidentally, Ozark
Society members Angela Timby and Erin Hughes were at Bandelier for the summer working with
the Rocky Mountain Youth Corps.
"This is similar to the Student Conservation Association and is
affiliated with Americorps," Timby said." The girls had a great time and worked
incredibly hard all summer repairing trails throughout the Monument. This required that
they backpack miles into the backcountry and camp for 10 days at a time, without access to
showers and running water. We are proud of you girls and your contributions to our
National Parks. It's encouraging to see that the spirit of volunteerism is alive and well
in our youth."
Velvin agreed, saying,"This was a week that creates
wonderful memories. I definitely plan to go back soon."
CURRENTS
BY STEWART NOLAND
THE "WATER WARS" HAVE BEGUN!
The competition for water resources is intensifying all across the United States. The
demands in some instances have spilled over into Mexico (Colorado River and Rio Grande)
and Canada (Columbia River).
Disputes concerning the use of Colorado River water have simmered for 50 years between the
states of Colorado, Utah, Arizona, Nevada, and California.
During the Ozark Society's recent summer outing to the Arkansas River area in Colorado, we
saw a prominent sign between Salida and Buena Vista disputing the need to dam or divert
the Arkansas River to send water to the Colorado Springs area. Additional disputes
concerning the use and availability of surface water have developed in Texas, Oklahoma,
Georgia, Alabama, Florida, and Arkansas.
There are many beneficial uses of surface water in Arkansas. They include, but are not
limited to, the following: flat water recreation, domestic water supply, industrial water
supply, agricultural water supply, habitat preservation, warm water fishing, cool water
fishing, cold water fishing, navigation, moving water recreation, hydroelectric power
generation, wildlife habitat, and residential irrigation. Most importantly, the need for
all of these beneficial uses is increasing and the understanding of the interrelationship
between the uses is improving.
Three of the major river systems in the state of Arkansas, the White River, Arkansas
River, and Ouachita River, are regulated by large dams developed by the federal
government.
Most of these projects were developed 30-50 years ago when there was not near the
competition for surface water as there is today. Most, but not all, of these projects were
developed for a narrow range of purposes: flood control, hydroelectric power generation,
and in the case of the Arkansas River, commercial navigation.
The competition for these and other surface water resources has increased to the point
that I believe it is time to reevaluate our priorities of uses for surface waters and
reauthorize the purposes of our large federal reservoirs.
A Water Resources Task Force appointed by the governor has recently concluded that the
State Water Plan, as administered by the Arkansas Soil and Water Conservation Commission,
should be amended.
As part of this amendment, I believe we should focus on the large reservoirs, determine
their highest and best uses, and go to Congress to have them reauthorized such that they
are managed consistent with the priorities of uses as determined by the amended State
Water Plan.
The time to do this is NOW, before the competition for our surface water resources becomes
a crisis.
FALL MEETING ROUNDUP: LAKE BISTINEAU STATE PARK, OCT. 13-14
Chairman Clay Peninger and his Bayou Chapter members have been
hard at work preparing for our historic Oct. 13-14 fall meeting at Lake Bistineau State
Park near Doyline, LA. They have an interesting and informative program lined up for us,
plus outing opportunities galore!
It will be the Ozark Society's first annual meeting in the state
of Louisiana. For newcomers to our organization, who may wonder how we came to have a
chapter in Louisiana, a brief historical review is in order. The Bayou Connection
The Bayou Chapter of the Ozark Society was formed in the early
1960šs by Wellborn Jack, Jr. of Shreveport, LA. Jack, a young lawyer, was introduced to
Ozark Society Founder Dr. Neil Compton by an Arkansas native, Mrs. Bryant (Tip) Davidson,
who had served as director of health and recreation at Centenary College. Jack wanted to
save the magnificent Cossatot River in the Ouachitas from being plugged by Gillham
Reservoir.
Jack was impressed with the Ozark Society's efforts to save the
Buffalo River and he told Compton: "I am going back to Shreveport and organize a
chapter of Ozark Society to fight the damming of the Cossatot, no matter how far along
they (Army Engineers) are!" Unfortunately, it was too late even for the aggressive
Jack to save the Cossatot. Unfortunately, we now have a so-so fishing reservoir of
mediocre tourism interest instead of a river famous nationally for its smallmouth bass
fishing and canoeing. However, Jack and the Bayou Chapter were instrumental in creating
the Caney Creek Wilderness on the Ouachita National Forest and helping establish the
Buffalo National River. The chapter remains a passionate defender and user of the Ozark
and Ouachita Mountain Regions. Ready to Meet and Eat!
Clay says they will be ready for arrivals starting at 3 p.m. on
Friday. Registration and refreshments will begin at 8 a.m. on Saturday. The registration
fee is $10.00, which will include the Saturday evening meal and Sunday morning pancake
breakfast. The business will last until 1:30 p.m. At 1:30, a representative of the
Louisiana Department of Culture and Tourism will address our group.
If you are a fly fisherman, or want to be one, bring your fishing
gear!
From 2:30 to 3:30 p.m., and again from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m., we will
have concurrent and repeating sessions on Fly Fishing and Basic Orienteering (how to stay
on track in the woods and on the waters). We also hope to have an instructional session on
fly Tying.
Also during this time, Mark (Monster Canoe) Norris will lead a
canoeing group in his 37-foot Monster Canoe, or you can follow him in a smaller canoe, if
you prefer. We should have plenty of extra canoes. There are also canoes you can rent for
$5 per hour.
Oven masters! Practice your victory speeches! Judging of the
Dutch Oven Dessert Cook-off will be at 5:45 p.m. and our Cajun Feast will begin promptly
at 6 p.m. (we don't want the dessert to get cold). Please bring your own cup and table
service, including a bowl for some superb gumbo.
The evening entertainment will be from 7:30-9:30, featuring the
Heart of Dixie Cloggers and Cajun music by Monty and Marsha Brown.
Sunday morning, there will be a devotional at 7:00, led by John
and Kathy Joyce. Pancakes and sausages will be served from 7:30 to 9 a.m.
You can work off the morning pancakes after 9:30 by Mountain
Biking on all or part of the 10-plus miles of trails in the park. This is Louisiana, with
no hills to speak of, but the trails are enjoyable. There will also be a land and/or water
orientation competition designed for beginners.
For a less active morning, you might prefer a tour of The
Shadow's Plantation Home, beginning at 10 a.m., which is a short drive from the park How
to get to Lake Bistineau
The park is located southeast of Shreveport and just off LA 163
south of Doyline. Members will have to figure out the best route from their home towns to
connect with Interstate-20 at Minden, LA. Then, at Minden, take exit 33 off I-20. The
follow LA 7 south to Sibley, LA, then LA 164 west to Doyline, and from there LA 163 south
to the park.
The group camp in Area l of the park is reserved for the Ozark
Society on Friday and Saturday nights. The camp has a central dining hall with a complete
kitchen. There are 20 cabins with 4 sets of bunk beds in each (8 beds). The cabins have
both heat and air, but no private bathrooms or running water. They do have a nice central
bathhouse. Note: You will need to bring your own linens, pillows, etc. We also have
permission to tent camp in
this area, if you prefer.
For those who want a cabin, there are excellent cabins about l
mile from the group camping area, at $65 per night. They may all be reserved by now, but
you can find out by calling 1-877-226-7652. For the computer literate, the park's web site
is http://www.crt.state.la.us.
DIRECTIONS FROM LITTLE ROCK
Clay also included some specific directions from Little Rock for
our Arkansas members.
He suggests taking I-30 west to Hope, then south on State Hwy 29,
This becomes Highway 3 in Louisiana. Continue on Hwy 3 to I-220. Go east on I-220 to I-20.
Go east on I-20 to exit 33. You will start seeing brown signs to Lake Bistineau State
Park. It is 16 miles from there. After exiting, go south (right) and then take an
immediate left on Hwy 3227, which dead ends at Hay 164 (about 2 miles). Take a right on
164 for just over 4 miles to the town of Doyline. Take a right on Hwy 163 and go 6.9 miles
to Lake Bistineau State Park Area 1 (sign on right). Turn left to enter the main gate.
Stop at Park Office to get a pass (free). Tell them you are going to the group camp. It is
reserved under Clay Peninger. If the office is closed, just follow the signs to the group
camp, which means keeping to the left. The gate closes at 10 p.m. If you have any problem
call Clay Peninger at (318) 929-4096.
THE UNEASY CHAIR
BY JOHN HEUSTON
There is so much meat on the conservation plate these
days‹good and bad that it's hard to get a fork in all of it.
I want to take this opportunity to thank all of the Ozark
Society leaders and members who volunteered much time and effort to make our annual
outings on the Buffalo National River and the Arkansas River in Colorado
such outstanding successes.
The flood gods were kind to Bill Steward and his Buffalo
River bunch this year, and nobody got bear bit or raft wrecked on Stewart Noland's
Arkansas River outing and camp out in Colorado. In addition, David and Laura Timby of
Leslie organized an interesting archeological "work trip" to help survey
prehistoric Pueblo sites for NPS archeologist David Hayes at Bandelier National Monument
in New Mexico. All of these events are covered in this issue. And now, Clay Peninger and
his Bayou faithful are going all out to ensure us a great fall meeting. Special thanks are
due Marian Howard for her great photographs of Lake Bistineau and Colorado.
On the conservation front, the untimely and ill-advised
interference of Mike Huckabee, our preacher/governor and photo-op fisherman, in the Bear
Creek Dam controversy has set the stage for a major lawsuit that could drag on for years
and further delay Searcy County's legitimate efforts to get a long-term, dependable supply
of quality water. If they don't use the allotted water in Greers Ferry Lake, someone else
will.
Does Huckabee really want to be remembered as the governor
who helped destroyed one of Arkansas' most beloved places, the Buffalo National River? Doe
he understand that the BNR already provides local jobs and contributes up to $36 million
annually to the regional tourism economy?
Bear Creek contributes 15 percent of the water in the
Buffalo River when it enters the river between Gilbert and the old M&NA railroad
bridge. Try telling veteran canoe rental outfitters that reducing the flow of the Buffalo
by up to 15 percent in the summer tourist season isn't going to impact their businesses!
Promised "below dam" flows are speculative and they know it. So do those of us
who spent our youth shoving loaded canoes over the rocks of the middle Buffalo! It's hard
enough as it is; Bear Creek Dam will make it even harder.
Bear Creek also serves as a nursery for smallmouth bass and
other game fish, and that will also be damaged by alterations to the riffle and pool"
habitat that is so important to mountain streams.
Outraged citizens and the media are currently ripping
Huckabee over the "incompetent government" issue (child support check fiasco,
etc.) and considering his pitiful performance on Bear Creek Dam, who would argue with
them?
Ironically, the ever politically-attuned AG&FC recently
named its new nature center at Pine Bluff the "Mike Huckabee Delta Rivers Nature
Center." I'm not joking. It's his reward for the Conservation Sales Tax. However,
they missed a great opportunity to name the center after a real conservationist, the late
Jane Stern of Pine Bluff. Jane, very active in the Audubon Society of Jefferson County,
and the Ozark Society, deserved that honor.
Perhaps it's time to recall the forceful words of the late
father of Stream Preservation in Arkansas, AG&FC biologist/philosopher Harold
Alexander:
"A stream is a living thing. It moves, dances and
shimmers in the sun. It furnishes opportunities for enjoyment, and its beauty moves men's
souls. Like the condor, the whooping crane, and the wolf, the streams of America are on
the road to oblivion and it is time we gave more attention to saving these living streams
which are a part of our history and heritage. Once they are gone another heaven and
another earth must come to pass before they can be again."
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