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This page lists recent (2015) news articles related to the environment or the outdoors (page references from the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette newspaper unless otherwise indicated). Refer to the indicated source for more information.
Page Index (date of latest change):
- - - 2015 Q4
December Flood Along the Arkansas River (12/28/15) [topic placed near bottom of page due to large size]
Benton County - Hazardous Waste Cleanup (12/27/15)
Fayetteville - New Regional Park (12/13)
New Delhi Air Pollution (12/5/15)
JBU Bicycle Trail (12/5/15)
El Dorado Trail Plans (12/5/15)
Pesticides Killing Bees? (11/29)
November 26 issue of Arkansas Times (11/26/15)
- - - - -Interstate 30, Highway Funding, Utility Hikes, Diamond Pipeline
Outdoor Ice Rink in Bentonville (11/21/15)
Nature Center Planned for Springdale (11/21/15)
Registration of Drones (11/21/15)
USS Hoga - Arkansas Inland Maritime Museum (11/24/15)
Natural State News, a statewide multimedia journalism collaboration (11/16/15)
Deer Saved From Cistern Hole (11/10/15)
Climbers: Carabiner Recall (11/9/15)
10/13/15 Sa - CAG Canoe Cleanup Outing
Nature Conservancy Purchase Along the Little Maumelle River (10/11)
- - - 2015 Q3
USDA Awards Grant for Rice co-op Plan [9/20/15]
Arkansas has too Many Trees? [9/20/15]
New BS Program in Environmental Science (8/23/15)
- - - 2015 Q2
2015 Spring Flood Along the Arkansas River (6/6/15) [topic placed near bottom of page due to large size]
Conway Recycling (4/26/15)
Food Safety (4/26/15)
White River Delta Study (4/19/15)
Deer Hunting In Arkansas (4/12/15)
Big Dam Restrooms (4/5/15)
Spirit Homes Purchase in Conway (4/14/15)
- - - 2015 Q1
Light touch advised in cavefish domain (3/29/15)
Eagles falling prey to bacteria (2/22/15)
EPA Water Regulations (2/22/15)
Fracking Supplier Layoffs (1/23/15)
The Nature Conservancy Purchases Land (1/17/15)
Benton County - Hazardous Waste Cleanup
Benton County has held semi-annual cleanup events - where disposal fees are waived - for some years. Now, to reduce roadside dumping at other times, the county will open a hazardous waste disposal site on a daily basis. For more info, see the 12/27/15 Sunday Democrat-Gazette page 6B.
Fayetteville - New Regional Park
12/13 - Fayetteville is building the first phase of a regional park at Kessler Mountain's base. In recent years, the city has acquired 642 acres on or around the mountain. If the city council approves a 400-acre conservation easement higher on the mountain early next year, Kessler Mountain Reserve will be the largest (400 acre) such easement in Fayetteville. For more information, see the 12/14 Monday Arkansas Democrat-Gazette page 2B.
New Delhi Air Pollution
To clean up the air, New Delhi, India, plans to limit driving to alternate days: License plates with odd plates allowed on odd days and those with even plates allowed on even days. They also plan to close a coal-fired power plant. For more info, see the 12/5 Arkansas Democrat-Gazette page 6A.
JBU Bicycle Trail
John Brown Univeraity is planning to open a 5-mile bicycle trail. For more info, see the 12/5 Arkansas Democrat-Gazette page 6B.
El Dorado Trail Plans
El Dorado panel hears trail plans - A steering committee got its first look this week at a preliminary draft of a master plan for bicycle and pedestrian trails within the city. For more info, see the 12/5 Arkansas Democrat-Gazette page 2B.
Pesticides Killing Bees?
11/29 - Pesticide makers dispute role in bee die-offs For more info, check the article in Sunday's (11/29/15) Democrat-Gazette on page 2G.
The November 26 issue of Arkansas Times has several articles that may be of interest:
Page 4 - 30 Crossing needs to be reimagined
Page 6 - A better highway funding plan, by the numbers
Page 7 - Utility seeks hike for little guy
Page 12 - The right way to fund Arkansas highways
Page 12 - The Diamond Pipeline
- - - editor's question: Another possible Pegasus in the making?
Page 23 - Arkansas Justice Forum Monday Nov. 30 at 12 noon - Clinton School of Public Service
Outdoor Ice Rink in Bentonville
11/21/15 - The ice skating rink at Lawrence Plaza in Bentonville opened 11/21. For more information, click HERE. This may be the only outdoor ice rink in the state. Indoor ice skating rinks include those at the Jones Center in Springdale and the Arkansas Skatium in Little Rock
Nature Center Planned for Springdale
Family members of the late J.B. Hunt announced plans Friday to donate $5 million to help pay for construction of an Arkansas Game and Fish Commission nature and education center in north Springdale. For more info, click HERE.
Registration of Drones
11/21/15 - The Consumer Technical Association estimates that 700,000 drones will be sold in the US this year. The FAA now receives 100 reports a month of drones sighted near airplanes. Europe requires registration of drones weighing more than 2 pounds. Canada is considering requiring registration of drones weighing over one pound. The FAA is especially concerned about drones providing real-time video, where operators may be watching the video rather than observing where the drones are flying. Possible registration in the US in the near future(possibly before Christmas): The FAA may require registration of operators of drones weighing over 250 grams (1/2 pound) with the registration number marked on all drones. For more information, see related article in today's Arkansas Democrat-Gazette.
USS Hoga - Arkansas Inland Maritime Museum (NLR)
11/24/15 Update - USS Hoga arrives in central Arkansas ahead of schedule. For more info, click on one of the following: Times Record (Online Edition), Fox16.com, Arkansas News
11/22/15 Update - The USS Hoga was towed to New Orleans, then up the Mississippi River to near the mouth of the Arkansas River. For more information, click HERE for an article in arkansasonline.com
11/12/15 Update - The USS Hoga made it through the Panama Canal. The cargo ship docked in Florida (for another off-load) before heading to New Orleans. The ship was unable to off-load the USS Hoga in New Orleans due to a possible violation of the Jones Act. The ship then went to Houston where the USS Hoga was eventually unloaded.
9/28/15 - After receiving approval a month ago for a wet tow from its location at Mare Island to San Diego, the USS Hoga arrived in San Diego Monday, completing the first leg of its journey to Arkansas. For the next leg, it will be lifted onto a cargo ship to be dry-towed through the Panama Canal to New Orleans. For the final leg, it will be towed up the Mississippi and Arkansas Rivers to the Arkansas Inland Maritime Museum in NLR, where it should arrive in approximately two months - to join the USS Razorback, a WWII era submarine.
5/31/15 - The museum is one (small) step closer to moving the USS Hoga (which fought fires on battleships during WWII Pearl Harbor attack) to the museum. The Navy has approved a tow plan allowing a wet tow from Oakland to San Diego, where it would be lifted onto a barge for a further tow to New Orleans. For further information, check the May 31 Arkansas Democrat-Gazette page 1B.
Natural State News, a statewide multimedia journalism collaboration
11/16/15 - Four Arkansas public radio stations have formed Natural State News, based at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. For more info, click HERE.
Deer Saved From Cistern Hole
11/10/15 - Video of the month: Wickliffe police save two young deer trapped in a cistern filled with bitter cold water. To watch video,check video on Facebook .....or click HERE, then scroll down to second image. Around 4:30 pm on November 10, two patrol officers were able to pull deer up through opening.
Climbers: Carabiner Recall
11/9/15 - DMM has issued a recall for a small percentage of its carabiners. The Product Safety Warning can be read at the following link: http://dmmclimbing.com/documents/dmm-product-safety-warning-11-09-2015.pdf
10/13/15 Sa - CAG Canoe Cleanup Outing - on the Little Maumelle River at Pinnacle Mountain State Park
For additional photos, click HERE.
Nature Conservancy Purchase Along the Little Maumelle River
10/11/15 - Check the Sunday 10/11 Democrat-Gazette page 7D for an article on The Nature Conservancy's recently acquired property along the Little Maumelle River.
USDA Grant to Rice Farmers
The US Dept. of Agriculture has awarded $927,000 to the White River Irrigation District with aim to reduce carbon footprint and use of water and nutrients. [9/20/15 pg 7B]
Arkansas has too Many Trees?
According to the most recent information (2010-2014), Arkansas had available 41.6 million tons of timber and harvested 24.8 million tons, with a surplus of 16.8 million tons. There has been a declining removal of pine trees (for home construction) and hardwood (for furniture, etc.). [Dem-Gaz 9/20/15 pg 1G]
New BS Program in Environmental Science
Arkansas Tech University (Russellville) has announced plans to create a Bachelor of Science degree program in environmental science. The program will include courses in animal and plant taxoonomy, geographic information systems, and environmental assessment. The proposal requires approval from various groups before it will be available to students.
Conway Recycling
4/26/15 - Program has expanded to include planter pots, bucketys, yogurt containers, or anything that has a number on it (1 - 7) that will fit in a blue recycle bin. Program also accepts clean white (but not colored) polystyrene (Styrofoam)
Food Safety
4/26/15 - PepsiCo is dropping aspartame in Diet Pepsi in response to customer worries and replacing it with sucralose, another artificial sweetner commonly known as Splenda. Diet Coke still uses aspartame.
White River Delta Study
4/19/15 - Federal and local funds have been secured to pay for a $3 M navigation study near the confluence of the Mississippi,White, and Arkansas Rivers. Navigation miles 3 & 8 on the White River are primary areas of concern. Study will look at how the waterways feed into one another and affect water levels of the other rivers and low-lying land nearby.
Deer Hunting in Arkansas
Deer hunting statistics (as of 4/12/15):
2012-13 - 213,487 deer
2013-14 - 213,199 deer
2014-15 - 208,075 deer
Union County (6750 deer) and Cleveland County (9.4 deer per sq mi) led.
Mississippi County was last with only 183 deer.
Opening day for archery season (9/27) - 1680 deer
Opening day for muzzleloader season (10/18) - 5018 deer
Opening day for modern gun season (11/8) - 22,086 deer
(See Arkansas Democrat-Gazette 4/12/15 page 7V for complete article.
Big Dam Restrooms
4/5/15 page 13A - The National Park Service has awarded a $138,000 Land and Water Conservation Fund grant to Little Rock to build restrooms and a bike repair hub at Murray Park at the base of the Big Dam Bridge.
Spirit Homes Purchase in Conway
4/14/15 - City Council will make decision on purchase at Tuesday's meeting.
4/5/15 - Last week, the city of Conway hosted an open house to allow the public to view the interior of the old Spirit Homes building. The mayor wants to purchase the building and property for $3.5 million for a new sports complex. A former mobile home manufacturing plant (at Dave Ward and Hogan), the 221,000 square foot building on 22 acres has several areas large enough for an Olympic-size swimming pool, tennis courts, ice rink.
At a public information meeting last Tuesday (3/31), the mayor indicated the building will be paid for out of A&P funds, from which $800,000 per year is now available for the purchase. Several people spoke in favor of a feasibility study prior to the purchase. The mayor expressed opposition to such a study, concerned that the building will be sold to someone else if the purchase is delayed.
The mayor did not have an estimate for annual operating cost (which will be dependent on eventual use) but indicated that a similar facility - the Jones Center in Springdale - has an annual operating budget of $3.6 million. Someone mentioned that this could be raised by a $10 use fee per visit paid by 1000 users per day for 365 days.
Most users will need to drive to the facility. Access to the facility is currently through a driveway on Hogan. An additional (right-turn only) driveway on Dave Ward Drive could be installed. Also, the Walker Creek Trail could be extended behind the WalMart store and under Dave Ward Drive to provide access for walkers and bikers.
The City Council will discuss the purchase at this Tuesday (4/7) evening's meeting and will likely vote to approve the purchase at the following City Council meeting. As with most items on their agenda, the City Council will likely declare an emergency, waive the three readings, and approve at that meeting.
Light touch advised in cavefish domain
3/29/15 page 8B - A new study recommends cities limit development in critical parts of the Cave Springs recharge area in the Illinois River Watershed near Rogers.
Eagles falling prey to bacteria
2/22/15 page 2A - An invasive plant from Asia called hydrilla now grows in virtually every body of fresh water in the country. Eagles prey on American coots, which dine almost exclusively on hydrilla. Susan Wilde (University of Georgia) uncovered a bacteria hiding on the underside of hydrilla leaves. The bacteria is a powerful toxin that kills coots, shorebirds, ducks, and eagles.
EPA Water Regulations
2/22/15 page 9B - EPA's water proposal resisted by some in state, Farm groups, legislators leery of regulations.
Fracking Supplier Layoffs
1/23/15 page 1D - Fracking supplier announces 120 layoffs in Fort Smith ...falling oil prices caused a sudden drop in demand...
The Nature Conservancy Purchases Land
1/17/15 page1D - The Nature Conservancy has purchased 247 acres of property with 1.7 miles of Little Maumelle River frontage just east of Pinnacle Mountain State Park.
2015 - December Flooding Along the Arkansas River
The water levels along the Arkansas River in December were several feet higher than last May and June: Photos - normal and high water. (added 1/7/16)
12/28/15 - After heavy rains in Oklahoma and Arkansas during the last week, Arkansas is experiencing a significant flood for the 2nd (or is it the 3rd) time this year. The following lines show water level along the Arkansas River at 4 stages: Minor Flood, Moderate Flood, Major Flood, and projected (as of 12/28) high level this week. Figures represent how water level is measured at the different points (not always above sea level). For more info, go to the Corps of Engineers web site or check the maps and projections at the NOAA web site.
Town: Minor Flood Stage, Moderate Flood Stage, Major Flood Stage, and projected high level this week
Van Buren: 22' (Minor), 26' (Moderate), 31' (Major), 34' (projected high Monday-Tuesday)
Ozark: 351', 363', 365', 370.8' (projected high Tuesday-Wednesday)
Dardanelle: 32', 36', 40', 42.7' (projected high Monday pm)
Morrilton: 30', 34', 38', 41' (projected high Tuesday-Wednesday)
Conway: 273', 275', 278', 280.2' (projected high Tuesday-Friday)
Little Rock: 23', 25', 27', 26' (projected high end of week)
After a significant delay, winter weather is finally reaching Arkansas in the next few days. Last Saturday, the high was 81 degrees. (The previous record high for 12/26 was 74 set in 1889.) Later this week, Central Arkansas will finally have lows in the low 30s or high 20s.
2015 Spring Flooding along the Arkansas River
Per the Corps of Engineers web site, river crested at Conway and Little Rock on May 14. News reported water flowing up to 200,000 CFS (cubic feet per second); normal is 20,000.
Clark Wetlands (Little Rock) water near roof of shelters in left photo (May 14 at 10:44 am.)
A day later (May 15 at 2:19 pm), water had dropped to near floor level in right photo.
May 27 - After more flooding in Texas and Oklahoma, water level is again at the ceiling of the shelters along the (now submerged) boardwalk (left photo above). (I-30 bridge in the background.) ...right photo above shows turtles on roof of shelter around 10:30 am June 4, shortly after water level had crested.
May 30 update - Water is flowing over the top of the dam at both Toad Suck (Conway) and Big Dam Bridge (LR). On the road leading into Toad Suck Park, the road is under water starting around 30 feet from Highway 60. (Long-time local residents have indicated that the water level was several feet higher during a flood in 1980.) This morning, it appeared as if the water level is now starting to drop a bit at Conway.
May 31 update - The Arkansas River is expected to again crest this week (possibly a foot higher than last week) on Monday in Dardanelle, early Tuesday in Morrilton, early Wednesday in Little Rock, Wednesday afternoon in Pine Bluff. At Toad Suck (Conway), the water gauge is submerged and can no longer be seen.
June 2 update 5 pm - Water has reached Hwy 60 a quarter mile west of the Toad Suck bridge (Conway) and has encroached several feet onto both sides of the roadway for a short distance. The slightly raised center of the road is still above water. Traffic is flowing almost normally at 5 pm but the road will likely be closed if the water rises another couple of inches. The water level is expected to crest here Wednesday morning at 7 am. Water has been flowing over the top of the dam for several days. The SIDES (i.e., walls) of the lock are completely under water but the handrail on both sides of the top of the lock wall still appeared to be a foot above the water. Only a few raised areas of Toad Suck Park remain above water.
June 3 flood update (9 pm) - West of Conway, water reached about 6" deep on Hwy 60 a half mile west of the Toad Suck Bridge but highway remained open (with a lot of water being splashed). The lock and dam had perhaps a foot deep of water going over top of dam and lock walls. Other water levels:
Dardanelle crested at 37.7 Tu 10 am, now at 34.4 ft
Morrilton crested at 38.6 Tu 8 pm, now at 37.8 ft
Conway crested at 280.5 W 1 pm, now at 280.4 ft above sea level
Little Rock will crest at 23.0 Th 4 am, now at 22.9 ft *
Pine Bluff will crest at 46 Th or F am, now at 45.9 ft
* Normal pool elevation from Palarm Creek to near Little Rock is 249 ft above Murray Dam and 231 ft below the dam.
June 4 flood update - Water levels have fallen around a foot at Conway and further upstream.
June 5 flood update - Water level continues to fall - no longer flowing over top of dam at Conway
mid-August - Water levels in the Arkansas River Valley are now at near normal levels.