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Arkansas Conservation Projects

	AQUATIC AERATION EARNS AN A+ A renovated half-acre pond on the campus of Bob Courtway Middle School in Conway, Arkansas serves as an important educational resource for the school, as well as a designated urban fishing location by the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission. An aeration system was installed at the site to help support catfish that are stocked in the pond and to encourage growth of other aquatic resources. Many students are enjoying the pond for class science projects and as a recreation area. Wildlife Forever and FishAmerica Foundation teamed up on the pond aeration project.
	FISH HABITAT IMPROVEMENT A restoration project on Greers Ferry Lake in Heber Springs, Arkansas provided thirty artificial fish shelters throughout the lake. The lake is a 32,000-acre Army Corps of Engineers Reservoir on the Little Red River. In the early years of the lake, cover for fish was available from submerged brush and trees. Over the years, the woody material decomposed, and this cover began to disappear. As habitat was eliminated, fishing success also declined. The restoration efforts benefited a wide variety of fish, including walleye, largemouth and smallmouth bass, lake trout, and crappie.
	125-ACRE WETLAND RESTORED A 125 acre Arkansas wetland was restored thanks in part to support from Wildlife Forever. The wetland was destroyed when the dam controlling Smith Lake burst, draining the wetland and destroying the water control structure. The wetland had served as a waterfowl resting area and had also supported a variety of fish species. The dam was rebuilt in partnership with the Sulphur River Chapter of Waterfowl USA and the Arkansas Game & Fish Department, and waterfowl nesting platforms were erected. Two tons of millet was also planted to provide food and cover.
	MORE CATFISH FOR THE BUFFALO RIVER Your support helped restore a native channel catfishery within the Buffalo National River in Arkansas. The $8,100 grant was used to help restore a fish hatchery. Channel catfish once provided an important recreational pastime on the Buffalo River but the population had dramatically declined. Stocking of the fish from the hatchery has provided increased fishing opportunities. Approximately 5,000 8-inch yearling channel catfish can be released each year. Biologists monitor the river and anglers to continually determine the success of the stocking program. Wildlife Forever’s partners in this project included the FishAmerica Foundation, North Arkansas Fly Fishers, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Arkansas Game and Fish Commission and the National Park Service.
	CONDOMINIUMS FOR FISH The fishing for bass, bluegill and bream is much improved 45 miles northwest of Little Rock in Harris Brake Lake thanks in part to your support. Created in 1955, the original wood habitat in the man-made impoundment was terribly decayed. Working with the Harris Brake Lake Association of Perryville, between 600 and 700 fish “condominiums” were constructed using snow fencing, milk crates and copper wire. According Tom Sekely, then Chairman of the Association, “The benefits derived from this project almost immediately exceeded our expectations. The changes in construction and materials provided twice the number of crappie condos, a more endurable unit without any increase in cost.” Shortly after the condos were in place, the local newspaper noted that a two pound crappie was caught in the project area.