East Fork Little Buffalo Water Quality

[shelbyjohnson]

Out on a recent scouting trip I was running on of the ridge roads and discovered a really large clear cut.

I could see it on the opposite ridge. I couldn't tell for sure but I think it would impact the East Fork of Little Buffalo watershed - possibly Shop Creek, or one of the other criks in that area.

I ran a lot of roads that afternoon so I don't know exactly where it was at... but I know for sure one of those creeks will be extra muddy for the next blowout we get.

[BMuu]

Lets just hope this blow out comes sooner rather than later.

[prophet]

is that public or private land in that area?

[shelbyjohnson]

The area has both public and private. Since the clearing was on another ridge a long way off I really couldn't tell which but my bet would be it was private land because it looked like it had been cleared for pasture by a bull dozer.

[DeBo]

Some of the worst stuff happens on private land and its pretty much impossible to do anything about. Is there a forest buffer between the area and the creek?

[shelbyjohnson]

Yes because the cleared land was on top and everything below it was timber but it will still carry a lot of sediment down to the creeks I bet.

Next time I'm up there I"ll take better note of exactly where it was and let everyone know which creek will be extra muddy.

[prophet]

Some of the worst stuff happens on private land and its pretty much impossible to do anything about. Is there a forest buffer between the area and the creek?

dont be starting more controversy :myday"

[hollohead]

Debo is right of course, But this has to be a rancher. Iknow several loggers, and they hardly ever clear cut. Out of staters(Texans, LSU types) for some reason always impose the harshest penalties on the land. I dont know why a person would think that ozark mountain tops make good ranches, probably the price. But the price for the Ozarks is reduced water quality. This will be an ongoing problem in the Buffalo watershed in the future. This is the best reason I know for people to buy land in the Ozarks. One bright spot is that they have paved the road into Steele Creek, this should help water quality there.

[DeBo]

You're right prophet; my bad It depends on the landowner of course. When they are really good stewards of their land we don't notice and the really bad ones give everybody a bad name.

Another thing that gets a bad rap is pavement. In cities it accelerates runoff and prevents water from being absorbed, which contributes to flooding but in mountains with thin soil, like the Ozarks, pavement on roads is a good way to cut down on sediment. In the Ozarks and Ouachita Mtns the worst sediment pollution comes from county roads. I was glad when they paved the road into Steel Creek and the river road by the Mulberry.

Of course the best thing would be to have permeable pavement that is durable and inexpensive. Maybe someday.

[SteveGabbard]

Of course the best thing would be to have permeable pavement that is durable and inexpensive. Maybe someday.

Ahhh, but then you would be cutting into the oil companies profits if you found a substitute for asphalt.