Gravel Mining on War Eagle Creek

[Joe Purdy]

I don't know any of the laws pertaining to gravel mining on streams in Arkansas, so I don't want to be an alarmist here, but I thought I would mention it so as to get it into the public eye, and maybe someone with better resources than I have could take a look at the legal aspects of this.

Not sure how many of you folks travel the Hwy 23 corridor between Aurora and Huntsville, but I do it on a weekly basis.
Over the past several months I have noticed a spot with dump truck tracks exiting the stream bed and entering the road on Hwy 23. Until the leaves came off the trees I couldn’t really see what was going on, but now I am sure that there is heavy equipment in there loading up dump trucks with gravel and hauling it off.

This just didn’t seem right so, like I said, I thought I would mention it here.


Below is a map of where this is going on.

[Joe Purdy]

OK, so I just called the ADEQ and reported the mining. Someone named Clay is supposed ot call me back soon. I will post more updates as I get them.

[DeBo]

Thanks Joe for keeping your eyes open and reporting this. Please let us know how ADEQ responds. We may need to follow up on it. From what you describe this sounds like an unpermitted operation.

Please! Everyone out there, report anything like this that you see on our streams that doesn't look right; trucks in streams, unusual clearing of trees from the banks or water being pumped from streams. Report these to ADEQ and please copy me on what you see so we can follow up.

Send me a PM or an email at ddoss@conwaycorp.net

[kayakrat]

I dug through the ADEQ permits for the area and didnt see anything that jumped out.

[bennettm]

there is a large sifting machine seperating sand from gravel. don't know if they are hauling off just the sand or sand and gravel both. but its been there for several months.

[Victor Caballeros]

I live about two miles from there. I thought they where doing that river repair. I saw some gravel dikes in the river. I guess I should go over there this weekend and look real close with a float trip. I guess I'm an Idoit and never thought about people taking gravel out.

[Joe Purdy]

Last Spring ( or before) , they did put some gravel jetty's into the stream , and it was in that area. But in December, a truck pulled out in front of me ( my Mom's house is about a mile from there) and it was dripping water on the road. I pulled around it and saw gravel spilling out from under the gate.

I am going to stop and take some pics this week when i am back out there.

ADEQ still has not returned my call, but I called earlier and was assured he would call me tomorrow because he was called into the field today.

[Victor Caballeros]

In that Area of Arkansas I'm not surpised if they are just running in there and taking it out. We have no real watchful eyes out there.

[DeBo]

Gas drilling operations are requiring huge quantities of sand for their fracturing processes. Both legal and illegal sand mining operation are croping up everywhere to supply the need. When in doubt report them.

My understanding is that ADEQ is not issuing ANY new stream bank gravel mining permits and instream mining is not allowed except by land owners who may take small amounts for their own use.

Companies are now removing whole mountain tops to harvest sand. They withdraw millions of gallons of water from streams to wash the sand and then turn the dirty water back into the creek. One such operation is on hold because landowners are trying to force them to treat the used water.

Sand is a high value commodity for the industry now. I don't know if that is what this is for but it sounds suspicious.

[Half Ton]

Nice spot and action Joe.

Debo Said it.

A landowner taking a reasonable amount for personal use is legal. However - not usually a good thing taking gravel from a stream even tho if it is legal.

Any other type of gravel taking requires a permit. Even permitted gravel removal ops are not a good thing for a stream.


Keep this in mind too.

Making gravel berms, wing dams, or chutes is usually not permitted either because gravels in a stream being moved around don't do anything besides cause problems for a stream. Add on top of it moving gravel to alter flow is redic because the river will always, always move the gravels around during flood.

[Joe Purdy]

So Clay form Little Rock just called me back, and told me that they would be informing the Fayetteville ADEQ and the Jasper ADEQ of the complaint and they would handle it from there.

He asked me if I wanted to be named as the complaintant. I declined.
He told me that declining meant that I would not be informed of any updates. He said that I would have to call back to check on the progress of the investigation.
I felt a little cowardly by not being named, but having family with property in that area, and with my Mother in law living right there, I just don't need to attract any trouble from someone looking for vengeance.

I'll call back in a couple of days and check on the progress.

[Barrett]

atta boy, Joe. Remind me to buy you a beer the next time I see you.

I guess you are banking that the illegal sand miner doesn't follow this board. I would say that is probably a safe bet.

[Joe Purdy]

I'm counting on it...

[ebell]

I drove past the gravel mining operation today. it appears to be shut down. there were two ADEQ trucks parked at the closed gates.

I am curious as to what happens next. Fines?

eric

[Danimal]

Good eye Joe. Thank you. Dan-o