Environment notebook

Federal grant aids Beaver Lake work

The Beaver Watershed Alliance has received $499,783 for conservation projects near Beaver Lake, according to a news release from the group.

The alliance received the funds this month from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Arkansas Natural Resources Commission.

The grant is for "green infrastructure," according to the group. That means incorporating the surrounding environment and other "natural ways" to "capture, filter and slow down rainwater" that runs through the lake's watershed, the news release states.

The alliance plans to reduce sediment and nutrients in the watershed, working with cities and engineers to build and manage the infrastructure and educate the general public. The group also will host three Rain Ready workshops for homeowners, developers and designers on "proactive property design" for wet weather.

The group's announcement notes that some streams in the watershed and an upper section of Beaver Lake are considered "impaired" by the Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality.

Cleanup, survey set for LR creek

Audubon Arkansas will host a survey of species and cleanup at Fourche Creek on Oct. 28, according to an announcement from the group.

The event will take place from 8 a.m. to noon at Interstate Park.

According to Audubon Arkansas, experts will conduct an inventory of species that live in the area. The experts will help people learn about birds, reptiles, plants and fish in Fourche Bottoms, the announcement says.

Audubon Arkansas helps host several cleanups each year of varying spots along Fourche Creek, which winds through south Little Rock.

Efficiency efforts honored by award

The Arkansas Advanced Energy Association has recognized a utility employee for energy efficiency projects, according to a news release from the group.

Gerardo Galdamez, Entergy Arkansas' project manager for energy efficiency, received the Advanced Energy Rising Start Award at the association's annual meeting Tuesday.

Galdamez oversees seven of Entergy's 15 Entergy Solutions programs, which offer residential and business customers ways to make their properties more energy efficient.

Those programs have saved more than 300,000 megawatt hours of energy, according to the news release. That's enough to power every home in Little Rock for three months.

Metro on 10/16/2017

Upcoming Events