Illinois Bayou Under Threat

[DeBo]

I have heard a rumor today that that the gas industry; looking for water to use for fracturing wells, is looking into damming Illinois Bayou.

If this rumor is true,it would be a truly awful use of this creek. Illinois Bayou is comparable to Lee Creek in quality. Water used by the gas industry is destructive use of water. Millions of gallons never return to the surface and most of what does return is contaminated.

I don't know how they intend to get around the creek's status as an Extraordinary Resource Water but with enough money anything can be done.

If anyone is aware of this please let me know. If this is something we are going to have to fight. We need to start now!

[buffalofloat]

DEBO are you talking about the Illinois Bayou here at Dover- Russellville if so thats where Russellville gets its water i kinda got my doubts it would ever be damed for gas wells its already damed for water supply. but can never tell might be something to keep an eye on.

[DeBo]

Yes, Illinois Bayou has a dam near Russellville and it also has an off channel reservoir which is used for a water supply. This would be further upstream. The person that I talked to is a friend of someone who works for a company that contracts to gas companies on water issues. I am seriously hoping this is wrong but we need to know for sure. I will try to find out more tomorrow.

[gannon311]

Surly not!! Can they do that? Like a big dam? I don't see them spending that much money for one location to get water when they can spend a lot less to build frac pond near the locations of the wells. Saves them bunches on pumping and trucking. Just my 1cent worth

[DeBo]

I don't know but I suspect it may be another off channel reservior like the one they did on the Little Red. They create a reservoir near the creek and then fill it by pumping water into it; still not great for the river but better than a big dam. It least I hope that is what it is.

[gannon311]

Is that the one below gf dam?

[CAPTAIN ALEVE]

No 404 permit application has been offered for public comment up to this date. Maybe the dam is just a rumor since 404 permit applications usually are made a long time in advance of actual construction. Now don't start talking about those after-the-fact 404 applications; big companies don't usually do that, honest. Most of those are submitted by individuals and a few small municipalities.

You can get on the list to receive notices of all 404 permit applications for Arkansas very easily by going to two sites:

http://www.swl.usace.army.mil/regulator ... ilform.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

http://www.mvk.usace.army.mil/offices/o ... pnmain.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

The first link is for the Little Rock District; the second is for the Vicksburg District. You will receive emailed links to each permit application just as soon as they are made public. Instructions for making comments are provided with each application, but basically you can respond with an email that contains your name and address along with your comments. You may not get a response directly, you get a direct response from the Corps, or you may get a direct response from the Applicant that addresses your stated concerns. At the very least, you will become aware of all projects that require permits well in advance of the cut-off date for making a comment.

Captain Aleve, alias Mike Coogan

[TonyC]

Just now read about this. I really hope this is all just rumor, cause I'd be seriously pissed if they try to dam one of my favorite favorites.

DeBo, has there been any developments with this yet?

[DeBo]

First, a big thanks to Mike for explaining the Corp question and as he said, there is no application for a permit yet. As far as I can tell this is a rumor within the gas companies working the area. Rest assured that we are keeping a close watch on this and I plan to contact some people who may know more after the New Year.

I feel about Illinois Bayou the same as I do Lee Creek. We don't need any new dams and especially not our Extraordinary Resourse Waters.

[Half Ton]

http://www.adeq.state.ar.us/ftproot/pub ... equest.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Found this on the net by accident. Seems like it might be the type of dam that would be used and like the one that Debo spoke of on the Little Red.

I do wonder though, if there is a distinction between this type of dam and a very large dam in the regulation#2.

I also have questions about getting around the reg. Seems like it would at least take an amount of time to do all of the impact studies such that it would lend a heads up to public knowledge of those actions.

[Cowper]

I can see how that could have spawned the rumor DeBo heard.

It would take some more details to know the true significance (which sort of seems like the point being made in the e-mails).

A 1.5 foot high temporary restriction, in place for 2 to 3 weeks, doesn't seem like a major concern, but, why is any restriction needed? In times of good water flow the creek should be deep enough without that. In times of drougth, like late summer shortly after those e-mails were being written, sucking the last remaining water out of a pool and reducing flow to 0 cfs for almost a month could have some noteworthy environmental impacts, even if it is not a death sentence for the creek.

It's a good lead for further investigation, to find out if there is any need for action.

[DeBo]

Thanks John for this information. As Cowper said, this is more than likely the source of the rumor. I will contact ADEQ and find out more. I hope they were not planning to slide this by without comment. It could be very bad for the health of the creek and, like you, I don't see how they are planning to get around ERW status. This kind of operation is clearly prohibited on ERW streams under Reg 2.

[EMTyak]

Did anyone manage to find out anymore on this?
This is my favorite Arkansas creek! And the creek I paddle most often..