BUFFALO NATIONAL RIVER DOCUMENTS
This site provides information on multiple water quality parameters collected at numerous sites on the Buffalo from 1985 to present. See the Water Quality Database 2005 - 2015 for most recent data, including E. coli and Dissolved Oxygen.
To see more NPS 303(d) documents scroll up to the 303(d) Impaired Streams section above..
Below are water sampling results taken by BNR at selected points along the river. Of particular interest are samples taken from Big Creek (site BUFT06) just above its confluence with BNR. Compare the results from December 12, 2013 (before field applications began) with those taken April 7, 2014 (after field applications were underway). The Dissolved Oxygen (DO), Turbidity, Fecal Coliform and E. coli results are of concern.
January 27, 2014 Note: there is a second Big Creek, site BUFT18, in the Lower Wilderness.
Water Quality Characterization of Big Creek Powerpoint presentation to the Arkansas Water Resources conference, July 16, 2014 by NPS Aquatic Ecologist Faron Usrey. This presentation shows the negative influence Big Creek has on E. coli and dissolved oxygen levels in the Buffalo River.
Dissolved Oxygen Levels near confluence of Big Creek and Buffalo River, late Summer, 2014. This graph shows that during a 21 day period starting August 21 and ending September 10, the dissolved oxygen dropped to or below 5 mg/l on 19 nights. On several nights it remained at or below 5 mg/l for 8 hours or more. The stream was at a critical level for 23.76% of the time during that period.
BNR Tourism Statistics
2012 National Park Visitor Spending Effects. National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior. Natural Resource Report
2017 Tourism Report: Tourism to Buffalo National River Creates $71.1 Million in Economic Benefits in 2017. Read more here
Newton County Tourism Tax paid during 2017 = $130,368, representing gross revenue generated by tourism businesses in the county of over $6.5 million
Ecosystem Services of the Buffalo National River in Arkansas, Margaret A. Young,1 Krishna Patel,1 Leah C. Crenshaw,1 Matthew D. Moran,1,3 Maureen R. McClung,1 and William. Hendrix College, October, 2022. This research report describes the value of "intangible" economic benefits provided by the Buffalo National River.
BNR Water Studies
Water analysis results. 6/4/2015 - 5/17/2016 This document includes a map of numerous sampling locations along Big Creek,from upstream of C&H to the confluence with the Buffalo. The results are suggestive of nutrient loading in the vicinity of the hog factory.
Base Flow, Water Quality, and Streamflow Gain and Loss of the Buffalo River, Arkansas, and Selected Tributaries, July and August 2003
The role of organic matter in the fate and transport of antibiotic resistance, metals, and nutrients in the karst of Northwest Arkansas draft doctoral dissertation of Victor Roland, University of Arkansas, 2016.
Aquatic Invertebrate Monitoring at Buffalo National River 2005-2011 Status Report
BNR Fisheries Management Plan, 1995
Smallmouth Bass and Ozark Bass in the BNR, 1989
BNR Ecosystems, April 1, 1975 - March 31, 1975
Fish Community Monitoring at Buffalo National River: 2006 – 2007 Status Report
Protocol for Monitoring Aquatic Invertebrates at Ozark National Scenic Riverways, Missouri, and Buffalo National River, Arkansas, 2007
Methods for Monitoring Fish Communities of Buffalo National River and Ozark National Scenic Riverways in the Ozark Plateaus of Arkansas and Missouri : Version 1.0. USGS/NPS 2007.
PERIPHYTON COMMUNITIES IN STREAMS OF THE OZARK PLATEAUS AND THEIR RELATIONS TO SELECTED ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS. USGS, 1993-1995