Beaver Watershed

Beaver Lake has been the water supply for much of Northwest Arkansas for nearly 55 years. But without steps to protect it, its capacity to deliver high-quality drinking water to the region could be challenged. In this edition of “Speaking of Arkansas,” host Greg Harton speaks with two advocates for protecting Beaver Lake and its watershed from pollution, whether it’s in the form of erosion that causes sediment in the lake or chemicals and trash attributed to a growing population and changing land uses. Alan Fortenberry is former chief executive of the Beaver Water District (https://www.bwdh2o.org) Clell Ford is executive director of the Beaver Watershed Alliance (https://www.beaverwatershedalliance.org) Events mentioned in this podcast include: Shiloh Museum of Ozark History “Once Upon A Stream” — 10 a.m. Saturday, June 15, 2019. https://shilohmuseum.org/museum-events/once-upon-a-stream Secchi Day — 8:30 a.m to 1 p.m. Aug. 17, 2019 https://www.bwdh2o.org/education-outreach/secchi-day July is Lake Appreciation Month — https://www.beaverwatershedalliance.org/programming/lakes-appreciation-month.aspx Recent Democrat-Gazette coverage of environmental issues affecting Northwest Arkansas waters includes: New water service denied to Bethel Heights at state’s request, June 5, 2019 — https://www.nwaonline.com/news/2019/jun/05/new-water-service-denied-to-bethel-heig/ Some Beaver Lake swimming areas closed, May 25, 2019 — https://www.nwaonline.com/news/2019/may/25/some-beaver-lake-swimming-areas-closed-/ E. Coli presence prompts warning on stretch of White River, May 27, 2019 — https://www.nwaonline.com/news/2019/may/27/e-coli-presence-prompts-warning-on-whit/ Beaver Lake cleanup more fun than work, Sept. 18, 2018 — https://www.nwaonline.com/news/2018/sep/18/beaver-lake-cleanup-more-fun-than-work-/ West Fork sewer project gets state funding, Dec. 3, 2018 — https://www.nwaonline.com/news/2018/dec/03/west-fork-sewer-project-gets-state-fund/