Chocolate River

[John Berry]

I took some clients to the Norfork River Handicap Access on Monday. The River was the muddiest that I have ever seen it in my twenty-five years of fishing it on a regular basis. It was muddy from the confluence of Dry Run Creek to its confluence with the White River. It seems that a new development, Norfork Lake Overlook Estates, had scalped a mountain top overlooking the Dam and had made no provision for run-off. When we got our first good rain in several months a good portion of that mountain washed into the Norfork River. At last check every one (ADEQ, AG&F, FFF, Friends of the White and Norfork, etc.) has been contacted and the drama has yet to be played out.A major article should be in the Baxter Bulletin today. This development should be stopped until this crisis is solved.

John Berry

[Phil Lilley]

In the 80's, the construction boom was blamed for the decline of our freshwater shrimp on upper Lake Taneycomo, which is still debatable. But the fact is tons of silt from those construction sites did wash into the upper lake and cover much of the gravel bottom causing some havoc I'm sure.

Arkansas authorities have to get a handle on new construction in regards to natural resources--even the developers should be concerned... why are they building on this hill? Because it's close to those natural resources. It's part of the draw to sell properties. To harm it would be bad business.

[Danoinark]

Here's the story

http://www.baxterbulletin.com/apps/pbcs.dl.../603150331/1002

Dano

[John Berry]

According to today's Baxter Bulletin the Arkansas Department of Enviormental Quality (ADEQ) visited the site in February and cited the developer for not having a storm permit for a subdivision of over five acres, a violation of the Federal Clean Water Act. This development is 100 acres. They have until April 12 to clean this up or they could be fined up to $10,000.00 per day. I think they should face the maximum fines.

[Snow Fly]

It is hard to believe that a developer in ths day and age does'nt know they are legally responsible to control storm water run off during construction, or they just don't care.i hope the problem clears before we get there on April 7, I would be disappointed but the main worry now is solve the problem & clear up the water. I have survived other disappointment in my life time. Scott of Gene's Trout resort is RIGHT run the heck out of the turbins and clear the silt from the river before it settles to much and has to much of lasting impact on the aquatic life that these fish and others depend on.

[snap]

...I agree with John Berry. Fine them to the max...!!!

[John Berry]

I fished the Norfork Wednesday and it was clear. They had run two generators for a couple of hours and that really helped. The problem is that there has been nothing done to alleviate the situation. Therefore any time we get a little rain there will be another few tons of sediment in the river. Sooner or later this is going to choke out vegetation and invertebrates. I am tying at Sowbug and noted that there is a petition. I of course signed it. We have to get involved with this one. We have too much to lose.

[CaptainT16]

I am tying at Sowbug and noted that there is a petition. I of course signed it. We have to get involved with this one. We have too much to lose.

John Berry

Any chance of posting that petition up here as well? I am sure you would get quite a few signatures on here. That is a shame about all the new development, I really like the river, beautiful place.

[John Berry]

I read in the Baxter Bulletin today that the Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) had issued an emergency order to the developer on the Norfork (Homeport Land Company owned by Benny G Doyal of Yelleville, Arkansas) responsible for polluting it. He is ordered to stop doing anything that causes sedimentation to run into the river. The emergency order states that the measures implemented so far are inadequate. The agency requires sedimentation ponds to collect runoff. It is about time for the ADEQ to get on this. Where are the fines? This developer is not going to do anything untill it hits him in the pocket book.

[Snow Fly]

John that indeed is good news! Hard to believe that the state would wait this long to finally do something about this type of environmental issue in one of the best fisheries in the state. If this would happen in some other states they would have been closed down in Feb. when it was discovered.