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Below is Mike Masterson’s column from the Arkansas Democrat Gazette regarding the October 23 “Celebrate the Buffalo” event in Fayetteville.  Used by permission. […]

Go to the new OS Outings  page to check out  information regarding 2016  All-Society Outings, including another trip to the Grand Canyon!  

The article below was published in the Arkansas Democrat Gazette on August 11, 2015. Reprinted by permission. The two federal agencies, ordered last December by a federal judge to assess potential environmental damages from the waste produced by C&H Hog Farms in the Buffalo National River watershed, have released their draft report. Their conclusion: All's hunky-dory above the river. So we can all relax, fall back asleep and quiet the unfounded concerns. Meanwhile, one geoscientist studying the potential contamination called their assessment "hogwash." This paper's Emily Walkenhorst reports that a complete assessment wasn't submitted with the original approval of Farm Credit Services' loan guarantees by the Small Business Administration and the USDA Farm Service Agency. The original assessment without nearly enough significant data to suit U.S. District Judge D. Price Marshall essentially found no potential problems, but in a lot fewer words. The new one finds no need for concern that the millions of gallons of hog waste being routinely spread six miles above the Buffalo might permanently contaminate the country's first national river, not even after an historic rainfall. Whew! I'm glad those agencies finally performed a supposedly "complete" assessment that ... drum roll, please ... happened to affirm their [...]

The Fall All Society Meeting will be held October 3-4, 2015 at the Crater of the Diamonds State Park near Murfreesboro, AR. LOCATION: Two miles southeast of Murfreesboro on Arkansas Highway 301.For further information on park hours and fees, contact: Crater of Diamonds State Park, 209 State Park Road, Murfreesboro, AR 71958.  www.CraterofDiamondsStatePark.com . The telephone is (870) 285-3113,  or e-mail: crater@arkansas.com. The Bayou Chapter will be hosting the event and are looking forward to seeing and meeting members from the other chapters. Charles Kirkland,  a wilderness first responder, will present a session on wilderness first aid. Charles has worked all over the world in many different climates and activity setting providing wilderness medicine services to injured individuals. He has a wealth of knowledge regarding wilderness medicine. There will also be a silent auction from donated items from a member who has passed away (you are welcomed to donate items also) and the proceeds will go to the Ozark Society. There will have a potluck supper and a dutch oven desert cook off. On Sunday, there will be options for hiking in the park, diamond digging, and paddling (depending on the water level).

URGENT REQUEST FOR OZARK SOCIETY COMMENTS: C & H HOG FARM PERMIT MODIFICATION C & H Hog Farm has requested ADEQ to modify their CAFO General Permit ARG590000. Only the requested modification to install pond liners in Waste Storage Ponds 1 and 2 as well as to install a methane flare system and cover on Waste Storage Pond 1 are open for comments. Any other comments will be rejected.  The following concerns may be used for your comments.  Please write in your own words on one or more talking points. Comment period ends Friday, August 7, 2015 at 4:30 PM. Send e-mail comments to:   Water-Draft-Permit-Comment@adeq.state.ar.us. The following concerns merit a public hearing.  ADEQ should provide one prior to a decision on the request to modify CAFO General Permit, ARG590000.  (Include this request for a public hearing) Concerns: 1. How will it be verified that all the hog waste sludge has been removed prior to installing pond liners? 2. If all the sludge is not removed prior to installing the liners, methane gas can build up beneath the liners and cause the liner to “float” up or possibly rupture. 3. How will the hog waste be removed?  Vacuumed up, washed down and vacuumed more [...]

The fourth annual Neil Compton celebration will take place at Compton Gardens and Conference Center in Bentonville AR on Friday, August 7 beginning at 5:15 p.m.  The Ozark Society and Highlands Chapter are  co-sponsors of this event, so please plan on attending.  The celebration includes an exhibit of photographs by Ken Smith and Neil Compton followed by a conversation with Ken Smith at 6:00 p.m.  No reservations needed.  Go to the following link for more information:  http://www.peelcompton.org/drc

In October, volunteers will resume building the Buffalo River/Ozark Highlands Hiking Trail. The first crew, sponsored by the American Hiking Society, will work the week of Oct. 18 - 24, followed by retuning "Alumni" volunteers the week of Oct. 25 - 31. The volunteers want to finish several short pieces of trail to complete an eleven-mile stretch going downriver from U.S. Highway 65 to the Red Bluff Road. The work will include installation of a 20-foot trail bridge across a deep gully 200 yards below Highway 65. Material and labor for the bridge are to be donated by the Ozark Highlands Trail Association. The Association (OHTA) is also to assume responsibility for maintaining the trail. Volunteers will camp at Tyler Bend. Anyone who can work on the trail can camp there without charge. There will be a completely equipped kitchen tent, but volunteers need to bring their own food and sleeping accommodations. For further information, contact Ken Smith, phone 479-466-7994, or e-mail at kennethsmith616@yahoo.com . Beyond October, two problems need to be resolved before attempting work on the isolated 5.5-mile midsection of the 28-mile trail. Archeological sites need to be dealt with, and a tract of privately owned astride the trail [...]

The OS Buffalo River chapter will join Buffalo National River Partners (BNRP) and Arkansas Master Naturalists as the BNRP hosts a river clean up on Saturday, July 25 from Spring Creek to Dillard's Ferry (Hwy. 14 bridge).  We will meet at Dillard's Ferry and Wild Bill's will shuttle us to Spring Creek. Bring your canoe (or BNRP can provide one for you if you need one), plenty of water, sunscreen, your lunch and the following helpful cleaning tools:  a “grabber” to pick up trash from the bottom of the river as well as a small shovel or pick mattox for digging tires from the riverbank. BNRP will provide heavy duty trash bags and mesh bags for other trash.  \ We would like for all participants to register for the clean up and you can do this by going to the BNRP website (www.bnrpartners.org).... look under "Events" for the complete description of the clean up and registration information. A special "float" surprise awaits all participants at the end of the trip...."

Bob James, a long-time Ozark Society member, died on Sunday, July 5.  Janet Nye shares her thoughts and memories: "The Legend is gone." This sums up my feelings about the passing of long time Ozark Society member, leader and friend on Sunday, July 5, 2015.  This is a quote from David Hedges, son of Margaret and Harold Hedges, who were co-founders of the Ozark Society and certainly legends in their own right. Bob wore many hats in his military, community and professional life.  He served wherever he was and was a natural leader.  He loved life and people, specifically teaching many of us about the natural and historical details of the places we hiked and paddled.  He was a leader in the Society, serving on the Foundation Board and leading multiple hikes and float trips. Alan and I were so blessed to have backpacked with Bob into Richland Creek Wilderness on a mid-March weekend in the late 80's.  With each step we took we learned more and we felt his soul enriching passion for this amazing place through his warm, soft voice.  When we set up camp above Twin Falls, Bob pulled a St. Patrick's Day clover out of his pack [...]