By Johnathon Williams

FAYETTEVILLE -- The seasonal wetland at Wilson Springs cannot be developed without destroying the habitat of several relatively rare plant and animal species, according to a Fayetteville biologist.

Joseph C. Neal, a biologist and co-author of "The Birds of Arkansas," told members of the Wilson Springs task force Tuesday that any development over most of Wilson Springs would ruin the habitat on which many forms of life depend.

Wilson Springs is a 289-acre site that sits near Interstate 540. It contains 85 acres of wetland, as well as traditional pasture. The 11-member task force was appointed by Mayor Dan Coody in June to investigate how best to develop the land.

Environmentalists have been opposed to any plan that would disturb the wetland area or the natural stream coming from Wilson Springs. Of particular concern to environmentalists is the survival of the Arkansas darter -- a rare fish that is a candidate to become an endangered species.

Neal said animals such as the Ozark burrowing crayfish would be destroyed by virtually any development of most of the site. While not endangered, the crayfish is relatively rare, he said.

Neal said it's impossible to draw a line to separate areas non-essential to the wildlife throughout most of the property. The seasonal wetland contains life forms that depend on both wet and dry environments throughout their life cycles, he said.

The one exception to this, he said, is the small portion of southern upland along Moore Lane.

Neal said that most of his report was based on informal observation of the plant and animal life in the area.

An adequate scientific survey of the plant and animal life on the land has never been done, Neal said. Such a survey is necessary to discover its real biological significance, he said.

"At this point, my tax dollar hasn't been used to support any look at the biological resources on that piece of property and that's unacceptable to me as a biologist," he said.

Neal said the fact that the land is no longer pristine is not a sufficient argument against preserving the land.

Neal was asked to speak to the task force by its biology subcommittee.

Although most past discussion of the use of the land has centered on turning it into a business park, some have suggested using it to build a large city park.

Terry Gulley of Fayetteville Parks and Recreation told the task force that installing a full-fledged city park of the type called for in the city's master plan would cost about $15 million.

Such a park would include soccer fields, tennis courts, walking trails, playgrounds and other things, he said.

Kyle Cook, a Fayetteville alderman, said such a facility could be expected to produce about $8 million per year in revenue from attendance at soccer and softball tournaments.