Grants, Goals Focus Of Watershed Group's First Meeting
Oklahoma Officials Monitor Progress Of Organization

By John L. Moore

THE MORNING NEWS • JMOORE@NWAONLINE.NET

SPRINGDALE -- Educating urbanites in Northwest Arkansas about how they pollute the Illinois River Watershed may be the first big task a recently formed watershed group takes on.

Several poultry companies in Northwest Arkansas are embroiled in a lawsuit over potential pollution from poultry litter applied to rural fields in the area. Oklahoma Attorney General Drew Edmondson filed the suit in June.

But members of the Illinois River Watershed Partnership formed in December are quick to point out that everyone living in the watershed has some impact on water quality, not just farmers and poultry companies.

The partnership's Board of Directors agreed to seek a $300,000 grant from the Arkansas Natural Resources Commission for education and outreach on urban, nonpoint source pollution in the watershed.

Urban, nonpoint sources could include parking lots, construction sites and drainage ditches running through subdivisions. All of these areas carry water that ends up in streams in Northwest Arkansas.

Jim Whitener, a board member and vice president of compliance for Lindsey Contracting, said specific education on the watershed and best management practices are vital to helping people understand what they can do to help.

The $300,000 grant would need a 43 percent match, said Katie Teague, a board member.

The group also set an operating budget of $185,375 for 2006, but money for salaries and other administrative expenses could not be taken from the $300,000 grant. The group has $2,703 in the bank.

"We feel like there are a number of people who might be interested in providing some money to help the organization," said Evan Teague, a board member. "Speculating on who that might be would be premature at this point."

Luanne Diffin, president of the board, stressed the need to unite Oklahoma and Arkansas residents in protecting the watershed, and several Oklahoma officials were on hand for the meeting.

Billie Brown, an organizer for the Oklahoma Chapter of the Sierra Club, attended the partnership's meeting.

Members of the Oklahoma Scenic Rivers Commission and representatives of Edmondson's office and the office of the Oklahoma Secretary of the Environment were also on hand.

"I'm really glad to see that this partnership has formed and that things are moving ahead," Brown said. "One of our group's goals in Oklahoma is cleaning up the Illinois River."

The partnership was formed in December and has 28 directors, but any individual or business can join as a voting member, and future directors will be chosen from the general membership.