Attention! Weidower Cadron access lost for now

[Chester]

Long sad story, but tonight the situation is this.
No access at this time up on the Weidower's property. The gate is locked.
This was the new access, upstream of CCO at the end of Cadron Lane we have been using.



perhaps a sticky for awhile?

[Crane]

And, the process begins again... When is the ACC going to buy a Cadron access?? Should we? CRane

[Chester]

Larry, I think that answer should be a resounding ASAP, and YES.
And my question... with it's location, popularity, and history of acceptable levels, shouldn't it finally get as much or more attention as the lower ledge project?

[okieboater]

Gents,

Attitude on access action between Cadron and Malvern, depends on where you live.

IE Hot Springs area or Conway area.

I would like to see ACC action on both places.

ACC is doing great work on a lot of topics. Just an opinion here, but access is one area we need to push up in importance. Training and conservation chairs is a good thing and deserves all we can do. Having said that, if we loose access to rivers and streams, we cannot boat. Do we need an Access Chair?

[Chester]

Dave, I'd say we have long term access at Malvern at both ledges for the forseeable future. So it's not a Hot Springs verses Conway access issue. My question dealt with the ACC attention on the lower ledge project specifically, verses obtaining creek access on the Cadron. My bad, perhaps I should have mentioned all creeks as well.
I obviously agree with your importance of access statement and your suggestion of an access chair.

[okieboater]

Good points!

I think we are on the same page when it comes to the importance of access.

I know the ACC, like most volunteer organizations, is low on funds. But I could see the Club bringing projects to the attention of others and acting like a catalyst to find funding for various access locations. Possibly acting as a fund raiser or central point of contact when access sites come on the market. I do not know the pro and con on ACC being a land owner but do think the Club's multi state membership could bring a lot of attention to projects.

[Steve S]

We've temporarily dodged a big bullet on Lee Creek. But now we may be facing access problems on Cadron and Big Piney.

Now that Mrs. Helton is no longer living, future access at Helton's Farm could become a major issue. And without a public launch area between Guy and Highway 65, it may take a great deal of effort to paddle the Upper Cadron.

I think these access issues need to move up on the ACC priority list.

[SteveGabbard]

Chester,

Any chance of getting the access back on the Cadron?

[Richard]

In the meantime AG&F is loaded with dough. Access should be a big priority for them.

[Roger]

What Richard says about the gas-powered AGCF having the money, but having more vehicles than employees can make a drain on financial resources and the fact that they wanted to hide their actions from the FOI Act really does not raise any flags here. Gee, what would it take to buy rights to these accesses with a one-time payment or however one does this?

Not knowing anything other than hearsay, I think the club has enough funds to put something into the kitty if the pressure can be brought on the appropiate agencies.

Disclaimer: I am currently not a member of the club.

[Chester]

Steve G, yes, both temporary and more permanent hopefully.
Steve S, right on.
Everyone, I talked with a landowner on the creek just a few minutes ago. She was open to us coming across on their property, using their ROW agreement with another landowner to get to the creek. She needs to discuss the matter, details, limitations, etc., with her husband and probably the other landowner. So with some signs of hope, I look forward to a call back from them.
Roger, I'm no attorney either, but I'd guess any landowner could sell or give anyone a ROW or easement across their property.

[Roger]

Chester, me neither! Thank the ceiling cat! My point is what dollar amount would it take to get the landowner and the AGFC to create an access ( the more primitive the better) with a $$$ input from the club?

They create these for the trout fisherman here on the Little Red. Why not for another natural resource user that spends money when they travel?

Paging Mr. Crane!

[DeBo]

ACC is doing great work on a lot of topics. Just an opinion here, but access is one area we need to push up in importance. Training and conservation chairs is a good thing and deserves all we can do. Having said that, if we loose access to rivers and streams, we cannot boat. Do we need an Access Chair?

At the fall board meeting I asked that each chapter identify a volunteer to work on access issues in their area. The issues surrounding access are many and no single person should be asked to deal with them club wide, across Arkansas, Oklahoma and north LA as a volunteer. For example; it would be hard for me to go to Oklahoma, search land records, interview landowners on some creek, cultivate a relationship with their state agencies and get a new access. As those who have worked on Cadron know, it can be a long frustrating process for gaining access to a single creek.

We have been working on access on several fronts. Mike Coogan, Chester Robinson, Heather Huckaba, David McClanahan and I have been working on access to the Cadron. We have so far followed leads that have ended up with no result. It has not been from lack of trying and we will continue to work on a permanent solution. Chester may have already found another possibility.

Here is an excerpt from my last conservation report:
Access Issues:
South Fork of the Little Red: This is one that we need to get with AGFC to create a public access. Chester Robinson has been in contact with the new owner at the Lo Gap Road take out.
Big Piney: No progress on this yet. I would like some help from Piney Creeks Chapter.
Cossatot: New access is available at the Deer Camp. This is a result of our partnership with Cossatot State Park
Mulberry: Comments have been sent to NFS supporting a new Public access at highway 23.

On another related topic; our organization, without tax exempt status, has difficulty getting donations for any of our projects. I have suggested that we create a tax exempt foundation for funding. It is a difficult process but would be worthwhile in the long run. As things are now, we have not identified any accesses that we could afford to buy, and our tax status has limited our ability to request donations for accesses. Our closest approach on Cadron involved a landowner who was asking significantly more per acre than any other recorded sales in the area, and requiring a minimum purchase of 5 acres. The net result was a price that exceeded total available ACC funds, even if we held nothing in reserve. If someone can find an access that is potentially within the ACC capability, please share the information via PM or method of your choice!

[gannon311]

chester, did you talk to the land owner? dont they have a lease road there now?sure it not just a SWN lock for the gas pad.

[Chester]

Hi Jeff, Cougan did talk to them several times, attempting to work with the owners. We are definitely locked out at that location for now.