An update from Bob Cross, Ozark Society President: "We are pleased with the tentative ruling in the Little Rock Federal Court on October 16 that the Farm Services Agency and Small Business Administration violated the National Environmental Policy Act and the Endangered Species Act. We are looking forward to Judge Marshall’s final order and will have further remarks at that time."
Make plans to attend this important event! When: Saturday, Oct. 18th from 7:00-8:30 pm Where: St. Paul’s Parish Hall 224 N. East Ave. Fayetteville EVENT FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC The crown jewel of the Ozarks, the Buffalo National River, is being threatened by a factory farm of 6500 pigs located just upstream along Big Creek…a major tributary. The 2-million gallons of annual feces and urine are first placed in holding ponds and then spread untreated on nearby fields. The Buffalo is America’s first national river. The Cargill sponsored factory hog farm is Arkansas’ first Confined Area Feeding Operation (CAFO) under a new permitting process. The Buffalo River Watershed Alliance and the Ozark River Stewards are presenting a public forum and Q and A to discuss the most recent scientific findings along with an update on the legal and legislative efforts. Van Brahana, renowned hydrogeologist, University of Arkansas Emeritus, Geosciences will discuss what his privately funded study has found in the area’s groundwater and what it means to the Buffalo River Watershed. Victor Roland of the United States Geological Survey and the University of Arkansas will discuss preliminary findings in his study of antibiotics and bacterial responses in Big Creek, [...]
Oral arguments in our law suit against FSA and SBA will be heard by U.S. District Judge D. Price Marshall beginning at 9 am on Thursday, October 16 in Courtroom B-155, U.S. District Court Building, 500 West Capitol Avenue, Little Rock, AR 72201. Earthjustice attorneys will speak on behalf of the plaintiffs and the U.S. Department of Justice will speak for the defendants. BRWA encourages all who are interested to attend this hearing but please keep the following in mind: 1. Supporters who are courteous and respectful are helpful. Signs, banners, street protests are not. 2. This hearing will only address the narrow focus of the complaint dealing with loan guarantees by FSA and SBA. 3. This is not a jury trial. Attorneys will present their arguments to the Judge who will announce his ruling at a later date.
For those planning to do trail building with Ken Smith on the Buffalo River Trail Extension, please note this IMPORTANT CHANGE: The campsite for the Buffalo River trail work (Oct 14 through Nov 12) has been changed from South Maumee Access to the group campsite at Tyler Bend. To get there, take US Highway 65 to the Tyler Bend Visitors Center entrance road one mile south of the Buffalo River Bridge. Take the Tyler Bend road straight through for three miles to the group camping area by the river. The campsite will have a big white canvas tent, in plain sight. For more information, contact Ken Smith at or kennethsmith616@yahoo.com
Click below to see a slide show of the Colorado Trip this year. Colorado Trip 2014 Photo Album More pictures are available at: https://picasaweb.google.com/LukeParsch
The fall general meeting will take place the weekend of October 4-5, at Buffalo Point. We have Pavilion #1 reserved for our day use, and we have also reserved the group campground adjacent for Friday and Saturday nights. Registration and continental breakfast will take place from 8:30 - 10 on Saturday, and the business meeting will start at 10am. Saturday afternoon will be open for recreation and there will be our usual potluck on Saturday evening, when we will have the election of board members and music by Harmony. A river cleanup is scheduled for Sunday. The meeting will be hosted by the Buffalo River chapter. There are campsites at the park, or you can inquire about cabins at : Buffalo Point Concession & Cabins 2261 Ark. 268 East Yellville, AR 72687 https://www.buffalopoint.net/ Please save the date and we will post more details as they become available.
There are many ways to see the Grand Canyon by trail, water, and air. One efficient way to experience the Grand Canyon by water is a motorized raft trip, and an enjoyable month to take this trip is April. Canyoneers, a Grand Canyon concessionnaire, has an April 19, 2015 launch date for an All Grand trip from Lee's Ferry to Lake Mead. This trip originates and terminates in Flagstaff, Arizona, and in between covers 280 river miles in 7 days, spending 6 nights on the river. Details concerning the trip, including logistics and cost, can be found at www.canyoneers.com. This trip provides Ozark Society members an opportunity to enjoy the entire Grand Canyon by river in a relatively short period of time compared to oar powered trips. If you are interested you can register for the trip on line. If you have any questions about the trip, please call Mike or Sheri at Canyoneers at 800-525-0924800-525-0924. Canyoneers advises that this trip may fill early, so if you want to go, it is suggested that you register soon. To help gauge our member's response to this trip, and since registration will be through Canyoneers, please notify Stewart Noland at bosshq@aol.com if you [...]
Please note the trip to Zion National Park in late September is full. If you would like to be added to the waiting list, please contact Bob Cross, email racross@uark.edu or 479-466-3077.
A Notice from Alice Andrews: On Tuesday, June 3rd, the Coalition of the Ozark Society, Buffalo River Watershed Alliance, Arkansas Canoe Club and the National Parks Conservation Association sponsored a media float trip from Grinders Ferry to Gilbert. There were 11 reporters from Arkansas, Oklahoma and Tennessee plus volunteers, about 32 persons. The Ozark Society gives our heartiest thanks to these Buffalo River businesses, serving the food, recreational and tourism needs of thousands of people who come to enjoy the River and its environs. They care deeply about protecting the Buffalo and understand how important a beautiful and healthy river is for business and for the economy of Arkansas. Our warmest thanks to: Wayne Thompson, owner of Fergusons Restaurant and Country Store, 121 E. Highway 333, St. Joe, AR, which provided cinnamon rolls, coffee and a place to meet; Monty Smith, owner of Silver Hill Float Service, 9862 Hwy. 65 (South Hwy 65) St. Joe, AR, who provided complimentary canoes and shuttle service; Melissa Welbourne, owner of the Gilbert Café, in the “big middle of Gilbert”. She served sandwiches, chips and drinks, kindly opening her café on Tuesday when it is normally closed; A huge thank you goes to the Pulaski Chapter of the [...]
Ozark Society Arkansas Delta Cycling Tour November 1-4, 2014 are the dates for the Society’s first cycling tour. This ride is all about learning the history of the Arkansas Delta and seeing the delta during harvest and the beginning of fall migration. We will begin in Poinsett County on Saturday, November 1 at the Tour duh Sunken Lands (sunkenlands.com). This 52 mile ride begins at the Southern Tenant Farmers Museum in Tyronza, AR and makes a loop to the museums of the Sunken Lands in Marked Tree and Lepanto. It also travels to the home of Johnny Cash in Dyess. We will then travel by car to Arkansas County and make 3 day trips to historical or scenic locations. We will learn the history of this area by staying at a former school house on the national register, going to St. Charles and the White River National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center and on to Arkansas Post, the first capital of the Arkansas Territory(nps.gov/arpo). We will be staying in duck lodges that are beautiful and fun. The longest ride will be the 52 mile ride on the Tour duh Sunken Lands. The typical routes will be in the 40 mile range. This [...]