Adeq To Host Meeting To Discuss Dissolved Oxygen

[Zack Hoyt]

News Release

For release: Nov 17, 2009

Contact: Aaron Sadler / 501.682.2287 / sadlera@adeq.state.ar.us

ADEQ TO HOST MEETING TO DISCUSS DISSOLVED OXYGEN

The Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality will host an informational meeting Wednesday, Dec. 2, in Mountain Home to discuss issues related to seasonal low dissolved oxygen levels in the tailwaters below Norfork and Bull Shoals reservoirs.

The meeting is scheduled for 4 p.m. at McMillan Hall on the campus of Arkansas State University-Mountain Home. The public is invited.

Both the White River below Bull Shoals Dam and North Fork River below Norfork Dam are on the state's list of impaired waterbodies because of seasonal low dissolved oxygen.

The Dec. 2 meeting will focus on options for improving water quality in those streams. Low dissolved oxygen concentrations can be harmful to aquatic life. Federal, state and local officials will be at the meeting to discuss several alternatives for addressing the dissolved oxygen problems.

Representatives from ADEQ, the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, Southwest Power Pool, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and other government officials are expected to attend.