Rivers Are the Lifeblood of the World

I wrote this piece a few years ago while working with ‘Friends of Little Sugar Creek’, a non-profit based out of Bentonville, Arkansas who has been fighting for years with the city government to remove a failed and dangerous dam impeding the flow of a local watershed. This dam has since burst because of a major flooding event.

If we were to treat our rivers and streams as we do the uncountable species of plants and animals around the world then wild, free flowing water systems would be protected by the Endangered Species Act. Unfortunately, we live in a culture that does not recognize them for how important that they really are. Rivers are the lifeblood of the entire planet. If we lose our river systems, then the rest of the planet will ultimately die. We have the opportunity right here in our backyard to do something good for the environment; something that will speak volumes to our children and our children’s children. We must get away from the religious-based concept that humans have dominion over the rest of the planet. This is simply not true; we are a part of the ecosystem, a part of the circle of life, and even a part of the natural food chain. Due to our technology, we have synthetically set ourselves aside and forgotten our natural place among the wilderness. The men and women who have been running our country, states, counties, and cities have been failing us as a species when it comes to the protection of that which is necessary for the survival of our species.

               Free flowing rivers are an important part of our ecosystem. They provide homes for an endless array of plant, animal, and fish species. They carry important nutrients downstream that replenish the soil for thousands of miles. When we dam rivers, we artificially impede those natural processes. Many species of fish are now critically endangered because of the negative effects that dams have caused.

Here, in Northwest Arkansas, the dam impeding the natural flow of Little Sugar Creek is a failed concept. It has been obsolete for years. With every storm, it overflows, it gets stopped up with trash and debris, and it has created an un-usable toilet bowl in the middle of town. The water stinks during the summer as algae blooms. Unfortunately, it seems as if the environmental impact of this dam is not important in the eyes of those who oppose its removal.

So, I ask you, how much money does this impoundment generate for the local community each month? Nobody can swim in its waters because of local laws, although, nobody in their right mind would want to swim in the cesspool that is Lake Bella Vista. When was the last time that you put a canoe or kayak in its waters? What recreational opportunities are there currently because of the dam? Fishing? Ok, but there is better fishing in the flowing stream. A trail around it? Because of the stagnant water it’s a breeding ground for mosquitoes. Who wants to walk through clouds of mosquitoes? I truly am lost as to what benefit you see from having this impoundment instead of a free-flowing water system.

I have a degree in Outdoor Recreation Leadership and have worked professionally as an outdoor educator for several years. I see no true recreational value to the “lake.” I can, however, see endless amounts of recreational and educational benefits to restoring Little Sugar Creek to a natural free flowing stream. Recreational opportunities that will bring lots of money into the community. According to the Outdoor Industry Association (OIA), the outdoor recreation industry supported more than 6 million American jobs in 2012. Outdoor recreation contributes $730 billion dollars to the economy annually. Those are huge numbers. As per Webster’s dictionary, eco-tourism is, “The practice of touring natural habitats in a manner meant to minimize ecological impact.” Eco-tourism encompasses a wide range of activities with outdoor recreation being only one. The state of Arkansas has a huge draw because of our natural beauty. We are an adventurer’s paradise with our forests, rivers, karst landscape, and many other resources. This is money that the City of Bentonville could be generating by allowing Little Sugar Creek to be restored to its natural state, allowing swimming and camping along its shores, bringing in guide services and outfitters to operate along its water, and opening the natural landscape along the creek to the many educational and outreach opportunities that are currently under water, muck, algae, and mud.  

This region has been proven to be a hotspot for mountain biking, a sport that has been embraced by the various communities throughout Northwest Arkansas. The many miles of single-track trails near Bentonville has led to Outterbike, an extremely large and popular mountain bike demo festival to come to town this October. So why not make Bentonville and Bella Vista an easily accessed hotspot for canoeing, kayaking, and standup paddle boarding as well?

What are the numbers of troubled youth within Benton County? I know that number is way too high. What I see here, as an outdoor educator, is the chance for the city to offer green space next to a free-flowing Little Sugar Creek. I can envision city-run, outdoor and environmental based summer camps designed to keep our children off the street and away from drugs. I see the opportunity for local schools to be able to utilize the area to teach the state required curriculum in an outdoor setting; an educational resource that has shown many improvements in children with ADHD. There are schools in other states, such as The Outdoor School, in Texas, that have amazing outdoor based programs that do nothing but make positive improvements in the lives of the children who get to participate. 

I plead with you, even if you cannot see the importance of improving the environment for the sake of the environment, then can you at least see the importance of improving the environment for the sake of your children and grandchildren? Maybe you cannot see that importance either, but I do know that you speak the language dollar signs, could the potential money be enough to make you want to save Little Sugar Creek?