Sunday, November 4, 2007
8-8
Reducing Sediment Loads through Erosion Control in Northwest Arkansas.
Mary Savin and Maggie Bailey Mtbaile@uark.edu. University of Arkansas, University of Arkansas, 115 Plant Science Building, Fayetteville, AR 72701
The most important anthropogenic pollutant facing aquatic ecosystems on this planet is sediment. Every year in the United States 4.4 billion tons of soil are moved due to erosion. Consequences of increased sediment loads include loss of wildlife habitat, eutrophication of surface waters, and contamination of drinking water. In Arkansas , rising sediment loads in streams are a problem due to erosion resulting from our many land uses. These land uses include row crop agriculture, forestry, urbanization, and the use of recreational vehicles. The Crop, Soil, and Environmental Sciences (CSES) Club at the University of Arkansas is working towards reducing sediment loads in Northwest Arkansas. The club’s primary focus is educating our university students and the community about environmental issues such as accelerated erosion. The club achieves this goal by hosting meetings and lectures once a month and maintaining attention on work in the field. Many projects are underway. The club is working with the Mulberry Mountain Lodge constructing erosion barriers and maintaining trails near the Mulberry River . The CSES Club cooperates with the City of Fayetteville replanting native species in riparian zones along the Bryce Davis Wetland. This allows sediment to settle in the vegetated areas instead of entering the water system. The club also works with Audubon Arkansas on the University of Arkansas campus to reduce erosion and scouring on campus and in neighborhood streams. The goal of these projects is to reduce sediment loads in the waterways of Northwest Arkansas by educating students and local residents and contributing to projects that directly reduce erosion.