IRWP Announces Golden Paddle Award Winners, Walton Family Foundation, AR Forestry Commission & Walmart Information Systems Division Grants, New Board Members & Officers

The Illinois River Watershed Partnership held its annual IRWP Stakeholders Meeting, November 10th at Arvest Ballpark in Springdale. Over 100 people were in attendance at the event where the IRWP awarded Golden Paddle Awards, announced several grants, elected new board members, and hosted a tour of the West Side Wastewater Treatment Plant and Sam’s Club in Fayetteville.

The 2009 Golden Paddle awards honored those leaders in watershed stewardship and natural resource conservation in the Illinois River Watershed. Six awards are given annually to individuals or entities that exemplify good stewardship in the protection, preservation, and enhancement of the watershed.

Agriculture: Gene Pharr, Washington County Farm Bureau;
Business: Flint Creek Power Plant, Gentry, Eagle Watch Nature Trail
Conservation: Ozark Ecological Restorations, Siloam Springs, Joe Woolbright
Construction: Stitt Energy Systems, Inc., Rogers, W. Orlo Stitt
Government: City of Fayetteville, Mayor Lioneld Jordan, West Side Treatment Plant & Woolsey Wet Prairie
Technical/Research: Susan Bolyard, US Geological Survey Hydrologist

The Walton Family Foundation awarded the IRWP a 2009-2011 matching grant for $300,000. The Arkansas Forestry Commission awarded the organization a $15,000 grant for the Urban Forestry Project and Walmart Information Systems Division awarded a grant for $10,000 for rain garden projects.

New board members were also elected at the meeting. Those elected include Steve Randall, Vice Chair, Oklahoma Scenic Rovers Commission; Marilyn Edwards, Washington County Judge; Sam Goade, Springdale Public Works Director; and Scott Carney, Flint Creek Power Plant Environmental Officer.

New officers of the IRWP Board are: President, Mike Faupel, UA Applied Sustainability Center; Vice President, Evan Teague, Environmental Specialist, AR Farm Bureau; Treasurer, Larry Adair, Arvest Bank President Stillwell, Retired; Secretary, Jennifer Michaels, Lake Fayetteville Watershed Partnership.

The Illinois River Watershed Partnership is a membership-based organization working to protect and restore the Illinois River and its tributaries. The organization is working together to improve water quality and to educate and encourage others to enjoy and positively affect the Illinois River Watershed. To become a member or sponsor of IRWP, log on to www.IRWP.org.

Our congratulations and appreciation to Uvalde Lindsey, Joyce Hale, Bob Morgan, Evan Teague and many others who worked diligently to see House Bill 1577:
TO AMEND THE ARKANSAS PRIVATE WETLAND AND RIPARIAN ZONE CREATION AND RESTORATION INCENTIVES ACT AND TO PROVIDE CONSERVATION TAX CREDITS.

This was over a two-year effort of many to make an additional option to provide tax credits for preservation of quality riparian and wetlands property.

The IRWP would love nothing better than to have the first conservation easement under this program be in our Illinois River Watershed!

We applaud the efforts of all who worked together to help preserve and protect the natural resources in our state and region.

Thank you, Uvalde, for leading the charge in the sub-committee and House of Representatives to pass this positive initiative for our state.

Delia

Dr. Delia Haak
Executive Director, IRWP

Arkansas-Oklahoma Water Quality Forum
The Arkansas-Oklahoma Water Quality Forum held October 6, 2008 was hosted by United States Representatives John Boozman and the Office of Dan Boren to discuss water quality issues. Featured speakers included Boozman; Benjamin Grumbles, Assistant Administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Water Division; Dr. Tom Simpson, Coordinator, Chesapeake Bay Programs; Paul Pinault, National Association of Clean Water Agencies and Ted Collins, Farm Service Agency, USDA Arkansas.

Congressman Boozman with Benjamin H. Grumbles, Assistant EPA Administrator and former Third District Congressman John Paul Hammerschmidt

The event allowed national water resource experts to discuss ideas on how states can work together to protect shared waterways.  Future forums are hopeful for Arkansas and Oklahoma to further develop ideas and possibilities for collaborative, cooperative conservation efforts.  

For more information from local news sources please click on the links below:
4029 News
NWA News
Water Forum News

Photos of the event courtesy of Congressman Boozman’s office.

September 2008

Illinois River Watershed Partnership Requests StreamTeam Volunteers

Be a hero to the Watershed! The Illinois River Watershed Partnership is asking for volunteers to become an IRWP StreamTeam Member. An IRWP StreamTeam member is a dedicated volunteer interested in improving our watershed. A StreamTeam Member can be an individual, family, school, organization or business.

As a StreamTeam member, you'll join a team and adopt one of 37 sites in the upper Illinois River Watershed. Together your team will collect four water samples from September through May and deliver the samples to the University of Arkansas Water Resources lab for analysis.

To become a Stream Team Member contact IRWP at 479.238.4671 or log on to www.IRWP.org for more information and sign-up form.

The IRWP and Arkansas Water Resources Center will train volunteers at Lake Wedington on September 13th during Illinois River Watershed Appreciation Day. 30 minute training sessions will be conducted between 2:00-4:30. 10-15 volunteers can sign up for the 30 minute training sessions prior to the Lake Wedington event or can sign up the day of the event at the lake. The Illinois River Watershed Appreciation Day will be from 2:00 until 7:00 p.m. The public is invited to enjoy family fun and activities, food, music and more. Log on to www.irwp.org for more information.

IRWP was established in December 2005 by a diverse group of Northwest Arkansas leaders and watershed stakeholders (anyone who has a share or interest in any or all issues related to the watershed, including residents) committed to personal action and the reinforcement and recognition of the positive actions of others.

The Illinois River Watershed Partnership's mission is to continue to improve the integrity of the Illinois River Watershed through public education and community outreach, water quality monitoring, and the implementation of conservation and restoration practices throughout the watershed. For more information, to join a stream team, to become a member or to become a sponsor log on to www.IRWP.org.

Illinois River Watershed Partnership Announces the StreamTeam Watershed Challenge beginning Sept. 1st and Illinois River Watershed Appreciation Day, Sept. 13th

The Illinois River Watershed Partnership is asking you to take the challenge… again!! The IRWP StreamTeam Watershed Challenge will be launched on the IRWP web site beginning September 1st at www.IRWP.org. Every week throughout September there is a new challenge and a new weekly prize to win.

The IRWP StreamTeam Watershed Challenge is a series of questions on the web site. Go to the web site and answer the questions to the best of your ability. Then fill out the electronic form and click 'submit.' Your email then goes to the IRWP where it is placed in a weekly drawing to win the IRWP Challenge Prize of the Week and the Grand Prize.

All people who enter the Challenge will be placed into a drawing to win the Grand Prize, a Heritage FeatherLight 9.5 Angler Kayak from Lewis & Clark Outfitters in Springdale. Log on to www.IRWP.org for more information and to take the Challenge.

KHOG 40/29 TV's Meteorologist Drew Michaels' will have Watershed Wednesdays each Wednesday in September where weekly winners will be announced, on October 1st the final grand prize winner will be announced.

Adults and kids are all encouraged to participate in this challenge as it is fun, rewarding and a learning experience that will help increase awareness and protect the Illinois River Watershed.

The IRWP also announces the Illinois River Watershed Appreciation Day will be held at Lake Wedington in Fayetteville, September 13th from 2:00 until 7:00 p.m. The public is invited to enjoy family fun and activities, food, music and more. Log on to www.IRWP.org for more information.

IRWP was established in December 2005 by a diverse group of Northwest Arkansas leaders and watershed stakeholders (anyone who has a share or interest in any or all issues related to the watershed, including residents) committed to personal action and the reinforcement and recognition of the positive actions of others.

The Illinois River Watershed Partnership's mission is to continue to improve the integrity of the Illinois River Watershed through public education and community outreach, water quality monitoring, and the implementation of conservation and restoration practices throughout the watershed. For more information, to join a stream team, to become a member or to become a sponsor log on to www.IRWP.org.

June 30, 2008

llinois River Watershed Partnership Awarded $435,000 in Grants

Illinois River Watershed Partnership Awarded $435,000 in Grants

Northwest Arkansas – The Walton Family Foundation and Arkansas Natural Resources Commission recently awarded $435,000 in grants to the Illinois River Watershed Partnership. A $150,000 grant from the WFF and a $150,000 matching grant from ANRC will fund Phases II and III of a comprehensive watershed management plan for the Upper Illinois River Watershed.

The IRWP was also awarded three grants of $45,000 to organize stream teams and conduct water quality monitoring projects within the watershed in Arkansas. The ANRC's mission is to manage and protect water and land resources for the health, safety and economic benefit of Arkansas, which is directly in line with the goals and future projects of the IRWP.

According to the IRWP executive director Dr. Delia Haak, "The Illinois River Watershed Partnership is so grateful for the support of the Walton Family Foundation and ANRC. We are very excited about the work that will be accomplished in the watershed through these grants. Evan Teague, vice president, and I, were invited to present the work of the Partnership at the Region 6 EPA Office in Dallas. Both the Regional Administrator, Richard Greene, and Deputy Administrator Larry Starfield, were very complimentary of the significant state and local support from our watershed sponsors and members."

The IRWP will continue emphasizing the role of education and outreach in the preservation and conservation of the watershed. In addition to the watershed management plan and the new monitoring grants, the organization also plans an annual Riparian Project to maintain or establish new riparian buffers, and teach others how their actions positively affect the watershed.

IRWP was established in December 2005 by a diverse group of Northwest Arkansas leaders and watershed stakeholders (anyone who has a share or interest in any or all issues related to the watershed, including residents) committed to personal action and the reinforcement and recognition of the positive actions of others.

The Illinois River Watershed Partnership's mission is to continue to improve the integrity of the Illinois River Watershed through public education and community outreach, water quality monitoring, and the implementation of conservation and restoration practices throughout the watershed. For more information, to join a stream team, to become a member or to become a sponsor log on to www.IRWP.org.

January 2008

Preserving and Protecting Our Natural Resources in Citiscapes
Story by Aaron Bleidt

November 2007

Contributions Flow During 'Waterfall Evening' in the Arkansas Democrat Gazette
Story and Photos by Cyd King

Artist William McNamara and wilderness photographer Tim Ernst pooled their talents the night of Nov. 17 for a "Waterfall Evening," a night of gourmet ears, wine and water-related artwork at Compton Gardens, Sponsorships, donations and a silent auction grossed more than $21,000 for the Illinois River Watershed Partnership.

It was McNaamara's first exhibit in five years.

The two men are neighbors in the Upper Buffalo Wilderness Area and donated several pieces, all having to do with water. Mc Namara's Above and Below, a watercolor of a limestone bluff and its reflection on the Buffalo River, brought $9,300. Ernst's canvas print of Neil Compton's Double Falls garnered $2,500.

The event was the first major fundraiser for the Illinois River Watershed Partnership, formed in December 2005 to protect the Arkansas portion of the Illinois River watershed from degredation. Delia Haak, executive director of the partnership, said the group's mission is threefold: to educate watershed residents about how their actions contribute to the watershed environment, to develop and execute water quality monitoring projects and to implement restoration and conservation projects.

The partnership had 135 members before last weekend's fundraiser, 35 more signed up at the party, Haak said. She lauded McNamara and Ernst for their efforts to promote the appreciation of water and other antural resources.

Compton Gardens rests on 6.5 acres near the Bentonville square that was once the home of the late Dr. Neil Compton. Haak said the gardens were a fitting place to have the event since Compton was instrumental in saving the Buffalo River from damming by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and a friend to both contributors.

"He influenced their work and their lives, so having it at the garden was significant for them," she said.

About 100 people attended the event. Ernst was on hand to sign copies of his photo books, including his most recent, Arkansas Waterfalls: Scenic Icons of the Natural State. A slideshow of images from the book set to music was played at regular intervals and moved on guest to tears, Haak said.

Sales of his books and prints by McNamara were not part of the fundraiser. Works by several artists at Poor Richard's Gallery in Rogers were donated for the cause. Fare was by At Your Service and wine was Post Familie Wineries.