Lee Creek, a designated Extraodinary Resource Waterway in Northwest Arkansas, should run free for at least the next three decades. That’s good news for the Arkansas Canoe Club and other roupss in the state that stood in opposition to the project. According to the Pine Mountain Dam project manager, Mark Yardley, Crawford County should not have to take up the issue again for at least three decades, because Lake Fort Smith is projected to provide enough water for the county for another 50 years. (Story here) .
The Fort Smith City Wire has a slightly different take on the story, probably more in keeping with political reality.
“Given that current conditions indicate an adequate firm yield for our region for the foreseeable future, coupled with the recent trend of slower growth and less than stellar economic conditions, the board felt that the best course of action was to suspend the study in the absence of data that clearly demonstrates a pressing need,” noted a statement from the [River Valley Regional Water] District.
If the economy were better, the study would likely have gone forward, need or no need, in spite of opposition from the Canoe Club, Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, the Nature Conservancy, the US Fish and Wildlife Service, the Arkansas Heritage Commission, (the City Wire reports this as the Arkansas Heritage Commission, but I think they must mean the Arkansas Natural Heritage Commission), and the Sierra Club.
In co-sponsoring a bill to exempt agricultural pesticides sprayed over water from the Clean Water Act, Senator Blanche Lincoln had this to say: “Congress never intended for agricultural chemicals to be regulated under the Clean Water Act.” (NYT). Oh, of course not. Everybody knows agricultural chemicals are completely safe, and spraying them over water is really no big deal. On this issue, as on so many, many others, the Senator has sided with her Republican counterparts. The bill is co-sponsored by Saxby-Chambliss, Rep, Ga. One begins to wonder which of the two is really leading the Senate ag committee.
The bipartisan duo argues that regulating pesticides sprayed over water places an undue burden on farmers. Pesticide residues in drinking water place an undue health burden on the men, women, and children who drink water (everyone, last I looked), but who’s counting? Maybe if we don’t look for pesticide residues in drinking water, we won’t find them, and the problem will just go away. Out of sight, out of mind.
Growing food is expensive. Continuing to ignore the very real human health and environmental problems associated with pesticide use may keep food prices artificially low, but it only delays the inevitable.
From ADEQ:
The Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality will hold an informational stakeholder meeting regarding the proposed changes to the Arkansas Pollution Control and Ecology Commission Regulation 2 – Regulation Establishing Water Quality Standards for Surface Waters of the State of Arkansas on Tuesday, April 6 at 6:00 PM. The meeting will be held at ADEQ Headquarters (5301 Northshore Drive, North Little Rock, AR). A presentation on the proposed changes will be made by the Department and time will be allotted for questions and comments. Please call Steve Drown at 682-0655 or Jamie Ewing at 682-0918 with any questions you may have. A copy of the draft rulemaking package can be found at:
http://www.adeq.state.ar.us/regs/drafts/reg02_draft_docket_10-002-R/reg02_draft_docket_10-002-R.htm
It’s important for those of us with a stake in clean water (and that’s everybody) to make our voices heard. Proposed changes to the standards, including lower tolerance for several toxins, are under attack by industry, for the predictable reason: cost. We need to make it clear to our regulatory bodies and to industry that human and environmental health comes before industry profit.
Officials from Bentonville, Fayetteville, Rogers, Springdale, and Siloam Springs went to Washington last week to “seek help with water quality issues,” according to Northwest Arkansas News. It seems that the new EPA standards are too tough for them. They didn’t go to Washington to fight for clean water. They went to Washington to fight for looser regulations.
The specific water quality issue they talked about involved a stricter phosphorus requirement the EPA wants to impose on a new sewer plant on Osage Creek. The plant, which will be operated by Northwest Arkansas Conservation Authority, might be required to release no more than .1 milligrams of phosphorus per liter of water.This is 10 times less phosphorus than Siloam Springs’ new plant will be required to release.
City officials want to wait for a water quality study before they agree to more stringent regulations on phosphorus. Citizens concerned about clean drinking water should contact their elected officials (city, state, and federal) to push for tighter controls.
Public hearings are scheduled for the proposed Pine Mountain Dam in Northwest Arkansas. The Army Corps of Engineers is beginning a study of alternatives to the project, and public comment is solicited. You may attend a meeting in person or submit written comments. Details are available at the Ozark Fly Finger Blog. Because funding has already been appropriated for this project, as I understand it, it is imperative to get comments in to avoid a railroading of environmental issues by those who stand to gain from the project (John Boozman is in favor, of course).
One option is to dam Lee Creek between Devil’s Den State Park and Highway 59. Not only is this area currently designated as Extraordinary Resource Water by ADEQ, but there are also several historical sites in the area. This designation would ordinarily prevent certain types of development (including a dam), but the rules have conveniently been changed to allow exceptions for the purpose of water supply. Such an exception would be determined by the Arkansas Pollution Control and Ecology Commission (where you see the word “commission” related to the word “arkansas” you may be certain there is a fair amount of corruption involved). You may view the Project Management Plan for further information.
Please join the Arkansas Canoe Club and the Ozark Society in opposing this project. The deadline for written comments is Nov. 30, 2009.
This post is part of the Climate Change Awareness Blog Action Day. Water issues will continue to plague the world, including the US, as climate change leads to areas of drought. Please tell Blanche Lincoln and Mark Pryor to support the Clean Energy Jobs and American Power Act (S1733).
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