A New Trail at Lake Maumelle

      At the Central Arkansas Water (CAW) Board meeting on Thursday, August 14^th, Bryan Rupar, the Watershed Protection Manager, presented for approval the plan to build an additional 13.5 miles of trail on the south side of Lake Maumelle from the Bufflehead Bay Trail to Pinnacle Mountain State Park.  The plan was unanimously approved by the Board of Commissioners.  When interviewed after the meeting Bryan Rupar stated that he would be asking conservation organizations such as the Ozark Society and Sierra Club to help with the volunteer efforts to complete the connections at each end of the new trail.  The main portion of the trail would be contracted out at a cost of $500,000.

     This new section of trail is part of a long-term plan to have trail access completely around the lake.  Currently, the Ouachita National Recreation Trail runs the full length of the north side of Lake Maumelle and portions of trail are present on the south side with the Bufflehead Bay Trail, the Blue Mountain Trail system, and Rattlesnake Ridge trails.

     The Pulaski Chapter of the Ozark Society has worked with CAW in the past to clear and define the adjacent Bufflehead Bay Trail while CAW provided tools, boxed lunches, and drinks.   Thursday, Bryan agreed that CAW would again provide food and tools if Pulaski Chapter members volunteered for this section too.

     That’s enough of an incentive for the Pulaski Chapter!