Fourche Creek (Little Rock) Friday Jan 16, 2015 (NEW DATE)

[Cowper]

Friends of Fourche Creek is planning to float from Benny Craig Park to Interstate Park on Friday, 1/16/15. At this point, I'm about 90% sure I'll be joining them. I wanted to invite others who include Bayou or flatwater type floating in their paddling interests to join as well!

In the words of the Trip Organizer:
We are looking for a date to get a few of our partners and some new people out on Fourche Creek for a float trip. The purpose of this float would be to pick out spots for way finding signs, and identify spots for the spring cleanup, and remove log jams and navigation hazards as we go. Also we would like to generate interest in Fourche Creek so feel free to forward this to anyone who has been bugging you to go see the place.

This is an interesting area; a lot of potential as an urban water trail, good for sightings of birds and other wildlife, but currently very heavily impacted by the amount of litter that washes into the creek as it passes through Little Rock. This float starts at the trash booms that Debbie, Aly, Bryan, Jon and I recently relocated to Benny Craig Park, to test their ability to help strain out some of that trash before it gets distributed into the wetlands. City representatives have taken an interest, and more booms may be coming at additional locations. This is needed because the amount of litter and the wide geographic distribution just overwhelms efforts to do something via classic litter pick-ups alone.

Audubon Arkansas has already collected a lot of good information on the stream which can be found here:
http://www.fourchecreek.org/Floating.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Summarizing what I know at this time:

Date: January 16, 2015
Time: Noon.
Place: Meet at Benny Craig.
Distance: About 4.4 miles
Weather Cancellation Policy: Plan for cold weather. I'll also assume we won't launch in a pouring rain, but will update if I learn something specific. Cancellation due to low water is also a possibility. Wed the 28th is the "back-up" date.
What to expect: Still to gently moving water, cypress trees. The last time I was there no wading was required, but wear something you can wade in; depending on levels it may be necessary to pull your boat over a fallen log or some similar obstacle.

GETTING THERE:
Benny Craig Park N34.70275 W92.32670 (boat ramp) Entrance is at 4612 Gum Springs Rd, Little Rock AR
Interstate Park N34.70805 W92.28504
Cut and paste those numbers into Google Earth or http://www.maps.google.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;. I recommend those two because I've tested them; other programs also work, but some programs and smartphone apps will automatically "move" the waypoint to the nearest road, which can be very misleading, for example, if it puts you up on I-30 instead of over in Interstate Park.

Note: Please do NOT include this trip in the "trip leader" drawings for January. I'm not the trip organizer, just sharing the info!

[sig]

Friday?

[Cowper]

Yes, Friday. We're just the guests, this one is being organized to occur on a working day. Because if you're in Parks and Recreation, watershed protection, or certain other types of business, then this is a legitimate work trip.

I seem to recall some erosion around one of the bridge supports we'll be passing. Maybe the highway department should find a civil engineer who also owns the canoe needed for access, and send him to check it out?

[Jim Krueger]

Heading up there this morning with the kayak, possibly see you there.

Best Regards
Jim

[Cowper]

Hey Jim, it was great seeing you. If you're free again today, we're going back today (1/17), meeting at Interstate park late this morning. No way we could launch before 11; but anyone getting there even at noon or one could put in and paddle downstream, you'd find us and be able to join the shenanigans with 1.5 miles. It would be worth your time.

[Jim Krueger]

Cowper,

Thanks for the offer but I think I'll clean my gear up and fool around here today Today should be an equally nice weather day, I know you all will have a nice time out there.
Thanks for the heads-up on yesterday's trip, I enjoyed seeing more of the creek, and more so, meeting folks from the various groups along on the float!

Best Regards
Jim