Anyone driving to the Northwest Arkansas Regional Airport from the south has gone past it and likely never suspected it had the potential to showcase the region’s watershed, geology, ecosystems and wildlife.
Year’s ago, the little impoundment of water in Cave Springs drew the attention of passers-by with a fence with big letters spelling out Lake Keith. It’s carried that title since the late 1940s when the property owner of the time gave it his family name.
The lake, fed by a spring emerging from a cave, has at various times served as a source of water for the tiny community, as a recreational area and, a few years back, the potential site of a developer’s plans for housing.
The rough financial times have, however, become a blessing for the Illinois River Watershed Partnership, which late last month took ownership of the six-acre lake and 24 acres surrounding it. The price of the bank-owned-land had dropped enough the nonprofit group, backed by a matching grant from the Walton Family Foundation, could buy it.
Welcome to the Watershed Sanctuary at Cave Springs. The partnership devotes itself to teaching about the complexities of water conservation, impacts of pollution, benefits of clean water and sensitivity of the region’s natural resources.
As much as one might support regional growth, it’s difficult not to back this organization’s goals. Indeed, it is because of growth the Illinois River and White River watersheds need everyone’s attention.
The newly acquired land will become home to the Illinois River Watershed Partnership’s offices, but more importantly will be developed as an educational asset to help people understand water quality and ways it can be protected.
Plans include building a learning center, nature preserve, wetlands, interpretive signs and ample room for education programs. For land acquisition and the first phase of development, the group has raised nearly $1.8 million and fundraising continues to realize the vision for this property.
The Game & Fish Commission is joining forces with the organization, agreeing to spend up to $880,000 in cash or in-kind services to develop fish and wildlife conservation programs, watchable wildlife trails, kiosks, an outdoor classroom, a fishing pier and fisheries management of the lake.
The commission also has an option, which it can exercise before June 2013, to build a regional office on the property and take a 99-year lease for it.
“We’re trying to help people enjoy our water resources so they will want to protect them,” said Delia Haak, director of the watershed partnership.
This project is a natural fit that will convert a dormant resource to a productive use, will directly benefit the Cave Springs, and will give advocates for watershed protection a base of operations that serves as a live demonstration of their important message.
Northwest Arkansas can lose what it fails to pay attention to. We can ill afford apathy about water quality, and this vision for the site in Cave Springs deserves high praise.
CORRECTION You’ve heard of a slip of the tongue? Sunday, we had a slip of a letter. And as letters go, it was a doozy.
In showing support for the half-cent sales tax proposed on the Nov. 6 election ballot, we used an “m” when a “b” was called for. And when the rest of the word is spelled “illion,” that’s a pretty big discrepancy.
The proposal will pay for a $1.3 billion bond issue for four-lane highway construction designed to better connect Arkansans across the state. Northwest Arkansas would benefit a great deal from this 10-year tax.
Opinion, Pages 5 on 10/17/2012