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 FAYETTEVILLE
- The Arkansas Stream Team, a citizen-based water conservation group of
dozens of organizations, agencies, and entities led by the Arkansas Game
and Fish Commission, gave out their Best Dozen awards last month. The
2005 Stream Team Conference was held May 13-15 in Ferndale.
According to statewide Stream Team coordinator and AGFC biologist Steve
Filipek, the awards went to deserving teams, individuals, and agencies
for noteworthy work conserving the Arkansas's streams, rivers,
lakes and springs. "Those receiving awards ranged from teenagers to more
experienced river runners. Clyde Temple of Warren, a stalwart
conservationist for the length of the Saline River and one of the main
reasons the majority of the river flows freely in our state, received an
award for his lifelong work in and along the Saline, one of Arkansas’
last major free flowing streams," Filipek explained.
At the other end of the awards spectrum was Seth Sumners, a 16-year-old
Hector High School 4-H member who has worked numerous water related
projects on and around Illinois Bayou. The Ouachita Conservation
District, represented by Don Turman of Camden, received a stewardship
award for its work encouraging proper land and water conservation in the
Ouachita River watershed.
Several people received aquatic conservation awards for their work in
the educational arena including Sister Carol Ann Corley of St. John’s
Parish in Hot Springs, Louanne Diffin and the city of Rogers Wastewater
Utility agency for their progressive work on streams in the Northwest
Arkansas area, and La Vonna Uekman, district conservationist for the
USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service for her work combating
erosion in the Little Red River watershed in Cleburne County.
Two schools received awards, Bentonville Junior High for its work on
McKisic Creek and Bob Courtway Middle School for its work renovating an
urban stream in Conway. A landowner stewardship award was given to
Cecil Smith, a farmer in Clark County, for his work rehabilitating major
eroded stream banks on the Ouachita River.
Other stewardship awards were given to Dianne Pierce for stabilizing an
urban stream in Little Rock and an award of special recognition went to
Farris and Sons Construction Company for its labor and construction
contributions to numerous stream rehabilitation projects throughout the
state.
 Finally,
Ellen McNulty of the Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality
received an aquatic conservation award on behalf of the Arkansas
Watershed Advisory Group, a mixture of agencies and individuals who
support and assist citizens, companies and governments throughout the
state in doing a better job of managing our water and land resources
utilizing a comprehensive, watershed approach.
Through education, stewardship, and
advocacy, the Stream Team program encourages safe use of Arkansas’
streams, rivers, springs and bayous. Stream Teams in Arkansas help
control litter, work on streambank stabilization projects, improve fish
habitat, and monitor water quality. Anyone wanting to join the
Stream Team can call 1-800-364-GAME and ask for the Stream Team program
or visit the AGFC website at www.agfc.com. |
