Chesapeake Operating, Inc, diverting water from the Little Red River

[cmo]

Chesapeake Operating, Inc, has recently submitted an application to the Corps of Engineers to divert water from the Little Red River for its oil drilling interests. Application No. 20790 from Chesapeake Operating, Inc. of Oklahoma City.

Unfortunately, I do not have the details. So if anyone could post what they know?

Thanks,

Chris

[Terry Beeson]

Chris,

Is there any limit or estimate of the amount of water that would be diverted? What portion of the river would this be taken from? What methods would be used?

I'm pretty sure these are gas drilling rigs, and from my experience, they do not use an enormous amount of water per rig. Certainly not as much as oil rigs. But the quantity of rigs and expected depth (on the rig permit) might have an impact. I'm also wondering why they want to draw from the river. Is there no impoundment access available to them such as small lakes and farm ponds?

I think we need ALL the facts before we take a knee-jerk reaction.

[cmo]

I dunno, just received the following forward of a letter and concerned.

May 18, 2007

Mrs. Elaine Edwards

Little Rock District Corps of Engineers

Regulatory Office

Post Office Box 867

Little Rock AR 72203-0867

Dear Mrs. Edwards: RE: Application No. 20790

My name is Jed Hollan. I am the manager of the Little Red Fly Shop, on the advisory council to the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission and President of the local chapter of Trout Unlimited. As you may know, TU is an organization with 500 chapters and 150,000 members nationwide. We are keenly interested in the preservation and conservation of trout fisheries. TU National also works at the state and federal level, providing a voice for fish and coldwater resources, strengthening existing protections and challenging new threats to trout and salmon.

We have questions about Application No. 20790 from Chesapeake Operating, Inc. of Oklahoma City and their plans to divert water from the Little Red River to be used in a gas drilling operation. We would like to know how much water will be diverted, what time of year this project will begin diverting river water and what will be done with the water after it has been used by the drilling operation? We are also concerned with the plan to leave an 80 foot long, 4 foot in diameter iron pipe in the river. The deterioration of this pipe over time will produce unwanted by-products (oxides) into the habitat. Can a water well produce adequate flow for the purposes envisioned for the river water? Are there plans to construct other similar facilities elsewhere along the Little Red?

I would like to request a public hearing to consider the application. The reasons for the meeting have to do with the possibility of negative environmental impacts to the Little Red River.

Jed Hollan, President

Chapter 722 - Trout Unlimited

35 Swinging Bridge Drive

Heber Springs, AR 72543

Phone #501-887-9988

E-mail: www.shop@littleredflyshop.com

[deerman]

I've heard it will be near Searcy, past the trout habitat. But from what I understand, they use ALOT of water when they use it. Somewhere in the millions of gallons.

[Terry Beeson]

Around 3/4 to a million gallons of water flow through the hatchery per hour. That's not including the water in the river... just the hatchery.

I just want to know how much impact this will have. I think the letter from Jed is right on target... Just the facts, ma'am... just the facts.

[deerman]

Here is a link concerning this matter in the Heber Springs paper.

http://thesuntimes.com/articles/2007/06/07/news/news07.txt