KARK News

ADEQ Releases List of Impaired 

Bodies 

of Water

Jessi Turnure

NORTH LITTLE ROCK, Ark. - The Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) released a list of lakes and streams Thursday that fall below its standards.

The proposed list is part of a report the Federal Clean Water Act requires Arkansas to submit to the EPA every two years.

The final list to the EPA will only include Category 5 impaired bodies of water, the worst ranking that means these assessment units may require the development of a total maximum daily load (TMDL), the maximum amount of a pollutant that a body of water can receive while still meeting water quality standards.

According to the proposed list, Category 5 waterbodies identified as high priority include Bayou De L'outre, Mulberry River and Hicks Creek. 

A notable body of water landed in Category 4, which means its quality falls below standard but does not require a TMDL because the issues can be addressed through already-established, state-controlled measures. 

ADEQ found four parts of the Buffalo River's watershed have the potential for bacteria, two segments of the Buffalo River and one segment of Big Creek with pathogens and a second segment of Big Creek with dissolved oxygen. 

"We have not had listings in this location before," said Caleb Osborne, the associate director of ADEQ's Office of Water Quality. 

However, since the findings are based on about five years of records, the state agency wants water sports lovers to know they do not have to cancel their plans. 

"That should not hinder them from their use and their enjoyment of the river," Osborne said. 

Some question if the issues stem from a controversial hog farm in the watershed. 

"Some folks might try to draw a correlation or relationship between those two," Osborne said. "Based on the information we have right now, we can't say that because the type of data and information we have doesn't lead us in that direction."

Osborne said many factors could contribute to the problems, even recreational activity.

While ADEQ continues its research and efforts to restore the quality of the watershed, the public can weigh in on the proposed list during a hearing Aug. 17 at 1 p.m. at ADEQ's headquarters. 

"We want the public who has an interest in the water that is in their county or their neck of the woods to take a look, to better understand what's going on around them and share feedback for us," said Osborne. 

You can also email comments to WaterbodyComments@adeq.state.ar.us before Sept. 10. 

To see the 2018 proposed bodies of water in the form of an interactive map, click here.