New State Park?

[Brian Sloss]

It was a willing sale from a West Plains resident who used for hunting, had not been doing so in recent years.  That is what I have heard locally.

[steve l]

 

 

Buying up the narrows would make a great new trout park. Build a new hatchery, pour some concrete, clear out some trees, make some roads and its a trout park. There is a pretty good stretch of spring fed stream there.

Yeah, maybe.  But that is just not what one of the few wild & scenic rivers need.  There are so few opportunities for what the 11P offers.  And as time goes on and either more development occurs on the various rivers or landowners fight for "their" rights the wilderness will just be so much tougher to find.  I'm 55 with my first canoe trip in 1966 with my parents.  I've floated the rivers a long time and have been able to share with my children and wife and now my time horizon is narrowing.  But it would/will be disappointing to see that wilderness opportunity gone for new generations.

[Mark]

Gov. NIxon is talking heat. The land purchase is seen as secretive. Oregon County Commissioner is outspoken critic. Mineral area politicians are upset over money being spent in Oregon County that they feel should be spent in areas affected by the settlement. I understand that point. I don't understand Oregon County being so opposed. I for one would like to see the state park project at the Narrows move forward. A nice park on the lower Eleven Point would be well used and a boost to the local economy but needs to be done right - boat ramp, RV camping, nice restrooms/showers, plenty of riverfront access. Ten campsites in the middle of the woods would be a waste of money.

[steve l]

Gov. NIxon is talking heat. The land purchase is seen as secretive. Oregon County Commissioner is outspoken critic. Mineral area politicians are upset over money being spent in Oregon County that they feel should be spent in areas affected by the settlement. I understand that point. I don't understand Oregon County being so opposed. I for one would like to see the state park project at the Narrows move forward. A nice park on the lower Eleven Point would be well used and a boost to the local economy but needs to be done right - boat ramp, RV camping, nice restrooms/showers, plenty of riverfront access. Ten campsites in the middle of the woods would be a waste of money.

and that is why wild and scenic rivers are needed.

[Mark]

I believe the part of the river being discussed for a state park is below the 44 mile designated Ozark National Scenic Riverways. The ONSR section runs from Thomasville to the Hwy 142 bridge.  I am all for keeping that section of river just as it is, although I would like to see the Greer Campground have electric available for RVs. I have older friends who would love to visit the area but have RVs and electric is a must. I plan to retire in a couple years and have an RV as well. Some cabins would be a welcome addition as well. Not everyone enjoys tent camping. As for the section being debated, there are already houses, cabins, and private property below the Hwy 142 bridge. Are those people the only ones entitled to access along with a place to stay?

[Brian Sloss]

Mark, The land is inside the Wild and Scenic riverway.  It is just upstream of the Narrows and includes Frederick Creek.  It has easements on the frontage, there will be no boat ramps or development along the river.  Just a few primitive campsites a half mile or more from the river.  I don't see much of a tourist impact from that.

[Mark]

Thanks for the correction Brian. If no development is planned, the only ones to benefit will be hunters. Will the state try to override the easement issue and develop? If not, I am starting to side with the opposition. What good is the purchase doing the majority of Missourians?

Brian, I like your idea of a private 200-300 acre resort/RV/cabins/campground type park located somewhere along the EP. My friends and I have often discussed the same thing. But how would someone get around the easement issue for such a project? The Greer Springs Campground is the only place I know of on the EP with a nice developed campground, and RV camping is limited because of the lack of electric (which it once had but thieves and vandals ruined that). And there are no cabins at Greer. It baffles me that there is no such place on the EP. I would think it would be a gold mine after the substantial initial investment of building such a place. Considering the low income of Oregon County, why would the locals be so opposed to some kind of development? It would be so nice to walk outside a cabin and be on the river. The county is missing a golden opportunity to pump some much needed revenue into the local economy. The Jacks Fork near Eminence has private resorts. Are they outside of the easement area? I see such a develpment as a good thing and something people would use, including my group. Is it because local people just don't want crowds visiting the area, ruining the primitive nature of the area, I don't necessarily buy that argument as there is plenty of untouched riverway all along the EP. and there already are weekends in the summer where the river is somewhat crowded. It doesn't make sense to me that local people are so opposed to development that would benefit the entire area.

[SpoonDog]

State parks protect natural and historic features, not just provide an economic boost for local communities.  It may not be ideal but I'd rather have a state park go in adjacent to a scenic riverway than a hog farm, as happened on the Buffalo in Arkansas

[Mark]

Very good point, SpoonDog.

[Brian Sloss]

Mark, It will not happen on the banks of the river, the easements prevent that.  If they make an exception, they will open a can of worms that will start a chain of litigation up and down the river by other land owners.  I am talking about something off the river bordering national forest land.