Progress on Fisher's Ford Park - OPEN

[CAPTAIN ALEVE]

The recent posts on this website appear to have been the first published reports to the paddling community that the project existed. The people in the ACC (or other organizations, outfitters, etc.) who were involved in accomplishing this project deserve credit for what has been accomplished.

The local newspaper didn't mention anyone being involved other than the city of Siloam Springs. I'm guessing when you say the ACC was consulted you mean the state ACC Board, or did you mean officers of the Northwest Chapter, or just some ACC paddlers? Why let the city take all the credit for this play spot if it was partly accomplished with the help of the ACC? Word needs to get out on what paddlers and paddling organizations are accomplishing in Arkansas, so the public realizes we exist and realizes paddling recreation needs to be considered when public bridges are built and new laws are made at the state Capitol. Help paddling out with some credit here.



Mike Coogan, alias Captain Aleve

[okieboater]

Mike,

From a long time friend and fellow paddler.

STOP digging the hole deeper.

I don't care who was consulted or not. The results speak for themselves.

Many of us have attempted to build a WW park in AR and OK. Mixed results at best with lots of talk but not much action.

Finally, a WW Park is being built in record time in a spot most of NE OK and NW AR can get to for day trips.

Hush up, let these locals get the park done and lets go paddling with them. Maybe we can all have a completion party, ask AR and OK newspapers to attend and have a ACC BOD meeting to boot. I'll bring a bunch of Dutch Ovens and plenty of peaches for cobblers!!!!!

My last post on this thread. Rain is forcast, lets go paddling some where!

Dave Reid

[mgood]

Captain Aleve,

(Only recently) local paddler here. We've won the lottery- free, multimillion dollar improvement on an almost sub-par surfing feature (my opinion, i know not all will agree) by an experienced whitewater park design firm. If they make the feature deeper so ends can be thrown, then I could pretty much care less what else happens/how it looks/other features.

"Do you suppose that any city and landowner could modify rapids in a river passing through their jurisdiction or property without notifying the paddling community?"
My answer: you bet. There is no law requiring notification to any kind of paddling community. From what I hear (and have experienced), some private individuals have been moving and cementing rocks around at Rockport for years without telling the ACC or city of Malvern.

I plan on hitting this thing up every day I can/it runs. My quality of life should triple after this is finished, so long as the main feature is faster or deeper (which shouldn't be too hard to do). From what I can tell, almost every local paddler I've talked to is just as pumped as I am about this development. There is local contact with the paddling community, although no requirement to do so- why not let them build the thing? Seems like a bad parade to try to rain on.

[CAPTAIN ALEVE]

No rain intended, and I did not know about the outfitter's use of the launching area by the bridge. A big organization like the ACC can't include everyone in making decisions. Getting 1000 members together to discuss or vote on something would be impractical, so if the ACC handled this project at the executive level that's an efficient way to get things done. It just looks like notice of the project should have been put on the ACC website, either on the home page or in a sticky like this one, so everyone would know what is taking place. I'm not sure exactly where it was that I wasn't "paying attention"; tell me where I should have been looking so I can know where to stay up to date on projects the ACC endorses in the future. Was there a message board topic posted way back when the project was initiated? Was it in Board meeting minutes posted on the web, or Northwest Chapter news in some of the newsletters? Did I miss the Public Notice and call for comments from the Corps when the 404 Permit application went public? Does the ACA put out some local news somewhere for it's Paddle America Clubs like the ACC? Are there any other whitewater projects in the pipeline you guys in the know can tell us about?

Help me other paddlers looking for waves get clued in.

Mike Coogan, alias Captain Aleve

[ARzach]

No rain intended, and I did not know about the outfitter's use of the launching area by the bridge. A big organization like the ACC can't include everyone in making decisions. Getting 1000 members together to discuss or vote on something would be impractical, so if the ACC handled this project at the executive level that's an efficient way to get things done. It just looks like notice of the project should have been put on the ACC website, either on the home page or in a sticky like this one, so everyone would know what is taking place. I'm not sure exactly where it was that I wasn't "paying attention"; tell me where I should have been looking so I can know where to stay up to date on projects the ACC endorses in the future. Was there a message board topic posted way back when the project was initiated? Was it in Board meeting minutes posted on the web, or Northwest Chapter news in some of the newsletters? Did I miss the Public Notice and call for comments from the Corps when the 404 Permit application went public? Does the ACA put out some local news somewhere for it's Paddle America Clubs like the ACC? Are there any other whitewater projects in the pipeline you guys in the know can tell us about?

Help me other paddlers looking for waves get clued in.

Mike Coogan, alias Captain Aleve

Mike,

I think you're mis-interpreting who is behind the park in general, thus the confusion. This project was conceived, paid for, and designed by the combined efforts of an entity not affiliated with the ACC and the City.

Steve - Correct me if I'm wrong, but members of the ACC such as yourself have been closely monitoring progress and reporting back but have had very little (if any) input into the physical plan, right?



--Zach

[paddledog]

Zach,
Correct.

[Lemme Hucknboof]

Captain Aleve-
My original post was March 19th 2012... How much more notice do you need? You eventually even posted a response. That was the first publication confirming rumors. From that point on we have tried to be respectfully involved. What else can you ask for. I have much appreciation for those individuals that did stand up to represent the local paddling community.
Thanks.
Levi

[Dan Daniel]

I'm not sure my instant messaging function is working correctly, but I've sent you a reply privately Mike. I also looked for an e-mail addy, but couldn't find one for you. If you don't get my private message, please let me know here, and at
pt65north@gmail.com
Thanks for reaching out.
I love you people.
Dan

I still Can. Not. Wait!

[mgood]

Update:

I went out there last week (friday or saturday). The gravel bar has been increased to about double or triple its size (on river right). this has created a pool far right of the main wave which should be good for teaching rolls/wet exists, side surfing. It also helped feed some water into the main feature.

Besides that, there has definitely been some construction (or maybe destruction is a better word) of the parking/picnic area. Haven't yet started on the feature, but maybe that will start this week once the water drops off tonight/tomorrow. The more time I spend out there, the more I realize that it shouldn't be TOO hard to get a really good feature. Seems like the best way to make a deep hole would be to make the actual hole downstream of where the bedrock slide stops. I walked around on the bedrock, and it really drops off right where the main wave currently is. I'm impressed that they designed an area with two features and can't wait to see what they do- the Nanty wave changed sooo much from what it used to look like.

Anyway, to consolidate this entire post, I'm pumped. Big time.

[tomOzarkVideo]

Update:
I went out there last week (friday or saturday). The gravel bar has been increased to about double or triple its size (on river right). this has created a pool far right of the main wave which should be good for teaching rolls/wet exists, side surfing. It also helped feed some water into the main feature.

That bar grows and shrinks with every storm.. The tree causes a huge eddy during floods that grows the gravel bar by 2-3 times.. It's ever evolving.

That said, I share your enthusiasm for the coming features!

[Lemme Hucknboof]

They are definetly out there workin those long days! Progress is upon us...


Levi

[Ben Rodda]

How are things looking so far?

Have they started moving rocks around in the riverbed?

[paddledog]

Just an update,
Rocks for wing walls have been moved onsite,
Digging for implanting of the walls
and then the pools below the waves has started.

It appears the bed rock is tough as a razorback on a rampage.
They are bringing in the big stuff soon....
Stay tuned for more....

[magicmike]

What up Dog- So the bedrock is porous and easy to get through then? Awesome!-M-

[adamm]

Are you inferring that they should bring some south carolina offense in to finish the job? Ouch Mike