JASPER — H2Ozarks hosted last Thursday evening the first of a series of workshops designed to assist local landowners meet their land management goals. Beginning next January, landowners can utilize a new cost-share program to receive funding for eligible conservation practices.
Any interested landowners can attend the workshops, but the target audience is residents in the Crooked Creek and Mill Creek area which feeds into the Buffalo National River.
H2Ozarks is a nonprofit organization that works to preserve the water quality of the upper White River watershed, located in Southwest Missouri and Northwest Arkansas, which includes the rivers, streams and four major impoundments: Beaver, Table Rock, Taneycomo and Bull Shoals Lakes. Formed in late 2001 as the Upper White River Basin Foundation, H2Ozarks’ mission is: To promote water quality in the Upper White River Basin Watershed through bi-state collaboration on research, public policy, and action projects in Arkansas and Missouri.
Recently the organization turned its attention to the Buffalo River Watershed and its tributaries.
H2O's program director, Erin Scott, explained that the workshops are aimed at enhancing land management practices and fostering environmental stewardship. The goal is to connect new resources to this supportive community that embraces sustainable practices to reduce soil erosion, improve water quality and enhance biodiversity.
Before beginning the workshop conducted at the new Little Buffalo River Conference Center in Jasper, Scott asked the 20 or so attendees what attracted them to the workshop. Several people cited curiosity as the main reason. The Newton/Boone County line area has been the focus of interest, primarily due to the redevelopment of the former Dogpatch USA property purchased by Bass Pro Shops founder Johnny Morris and the investment of public funds to renovate the Marble Falls community's water and sewer system. Scott pointed out H2O is not in any way connected to those projects.
Rather, she said, the workshops are related to addressing needs outlined in the Buffalo River Watershed Management Plan that was put into practice in 2018 through the direction of the Arkansas Natural Resources Commission.
H2O's upcoming cost-share program may provide funding for up to 100% of costs associated with certain conservation practices for eligible landowners within the project area. These include: Riparian plantings, prescribed grazing, livestock fencing, nutrient management, prescribed burning and many more.
John Pennington, a water quality educator with the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture Research and Extension, was the workshop's keynote presenter. He addressed riparian buffer management practices designed to control stream side erosion. Land use changes have impacted the hydrology in watersheds over the many years. Clearing land up to the stream bank has had the greatest effect allowing gravel and sediment to enter streams.
Riparian buffers reduce erosion, return wildlife habitat, filter pollutants and even help regulate a stream's temperature, he said. More importantly they can increase a property's value.
Improvements to the land within the watershed at this point are voluntary under the management plan, Pennington pointed out.
He outlined steps landowners can take to begin improving their stream banks via authorized activities. He said working within the stream requires official permits and to do so without obtaining them can lead to legal consequences.
Other speakers during the 90-minute workshop included:
Sara Wittenberg from Pollinator Partnership. A non-profit organization — the largest in the world dedicated exclusively to the protection and promotion of pollinators.
Shelby Garriott and Katrina Sims, biologists from the USDA Service Center in Harrison, working with Arkansas's Quail Forever program.
And representatives from Boone and Newton counties' Natural Resources Conservation Service offices.
Here is the schedule of future workshops:
Date: Tuesday, Sept. 24 Time: 5:30-7:30 p.m.
Location: Carroll Electric Cooperative, 511 Court Street, Jasper.
Speaker: Chris Wyatt, Arkansas Forestry Commission
Food: Catered by Jasper Pizza Company
Maximizing Nutrient Management
Date: Tuesday, Oct. 8
Time: 5:30-7:30 p.m.
Location: The Gathering Barn at Diamond R Ranch, 11153 Erbie Cutoff Road, Harrison.
Speaker: Monica Hancock, Arkansas Division of Agriculture Natural Resources Division
Food: Catered by Daisy Queen
Pasture and Forage Management
Date: Thursday, Oct. 24
Time: 5:30-7:30 p.m.
Location: The Gathering Barn at Diamond R Ranch, 11153 Erbie Cutoff Road, Harrison.
Speaker: Cody Carlile, Natural Resources Conservation Service
Food: Catered by Daisy Queen.
