Game and Fish expands WMA, votes to fix dam

— The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission voted Thursday to increase the size of the Harold Alexander Wildlife Management Area and repair the dam at the Spring River State Fish Hatchery.

At the Harold Alexander WMA, the AGFC approved buying two 40-acre inholdings owned by Frederic Clark. The appraised value of the parcels is $120,000 or $1,500 per acre. David Goad, chief of the AGFC’s wildlife management division, said federal funds from the Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Act might cover 75 percent of the purchase.

Located along the Spring River in Sharp County near Hardy, Harold Alexander WMA covers 13,444 acres. It is known for its excellent hunting for deer, turkey and small game.

Also on the Spring River, Dam No. 3 at the Jim Hinkle Spring River State Fish Hatchery has suffered extensive damage from floods in recent years. The dams are necessary to maintain a constant water supply for the hatchery. The AGFC voted to contract Crist Engineers of Little Rock for $159,420 to “rehabilitate” Dam No. 3. Part of this renovation will include installing hydraulic lifts to raise and lower floodgates, The retractable gates will allow debris to flow through the gates instead of snagging in it and putting stress on the structure.

Also, the commission voted to spend $45,630 to build a boat access facility at Promise Land on Bull Shoals Lake. This will help the AGFC fufill its obligations under the White River minimum flow agreement, which will raise the water level at Bull Shoals.

In fisheries related business, the AGFC approved commercial fishing regulations for 2013. Significant changes include requiring roe takers to use only multifilament nets in the Arkansas River below James A. Trimble Dam on Nov. 20–Dec. 5, 2013, and March 2-April 10. The AGFC also eliminated the 32-inch minimum length limit on paddlefish in the open portion of the White River.

Commissioner Ron Duncan of Springdale, chairman of the AGFC’s property management committee, updated the commission on mulching efforts at Dave Donaldson Black River WMA. Ice storms from previous winters downed trees and branches at the WMA, hindering public access within the area and hindering waterflow on the area. Duncan said that debris has been removed from nearly seven miles of boat lanes. The mulching project ran Sept. 1-Oct. 12 and cost $260,000.

In other business, Mike Breedlove of the Shikar Safari Club honored wildlife officer Oscar Gerard as its wildlife officer of the year.

Sports, Pages 28 on 11/30/2012

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