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Fayetteville's Aquatic Treasure A PROPOSAL FOR A COOPERATIVE PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THE NATURE CONSERVANCY'S ARKANSAS FIELD OFFICE AND THE CITY OF FAYETTEVILLE
Arkansas Field Office 601 N. University Ave. Little Rock, AR 72205 (501) 614-5076 Arkansas is blessed with superlative aquatic resources. More than 70 globally critically imperiled animals live in the rivers, streams, lakes, and aquifers that 2 million Arkansans use for drinking water, fishing, canoeing, and boating. Some of these species, in fact, are found nowhere else in the world. Like us, many of these unique species need clean water to survive. Certain upland land use changes can result in water quality degradation, leading to pressures on our aquatic ecosystems. Residents who live and work in critical watersheds with significant aquatic resources have the opportunity to ensure future generations will derive the full benefits of this wonderful resource. This reality is a significant responsibility for all Arkansans. The Nature Conservancy The Nature Conservancy is an international, private, non-profit membership organization committed to the conservation of natural diversity. It emerged in 1951 from a professional association of ecologists seeking to turn their knowledge of nature into positive action for conservation. The mission of The Nature Conservancy is to preserve the plants, animals and natural communities that represent the diversity of life on Earth by protecting the lands and waters they need to survive. TNC forges partnerships with landowners, corporations, municipalities, and governments. Sound science, tangible results and a non-confrontational approach are the hallmarks of the Conservancy's work. To date, The Nature Conservancy's Arkansas Field Office and its 5,000 members have helped conserve over 230,000 acres of land in Arkansas. Internationally, the Conservancy - over 1 million members strong - has been responsible for the conservation of more than 11 million acres in the U.S. and Canada. It has also helped like-minded partner organizations to protect 80 million acres in Latin America, the Caribbean, and the Pacific Region. The Nature Conservancy is working to conserve the amazing aquatic diversity of Arkansas. The premise is simple. The Conservancy believes the conservation of our natural heritage can be best accomplished within an atmosphere of economic prosperity, by residents and conservationists working together under a shared vision, towards specific objectives, and with measurable progress. Ensuring conservation of aquatic species in privately held watersheds requires an approach different from traditional means. It requires building upon the successful land conservation and management practices the Conservancy has used for 50 years, while providing watershed residents with the information, tools, and financial support to implement water quality and habitat conservation activities on their lands to benefit their aquatic resources. It also means that partnerships with cities, businesses and industries within the watershed of these critical aquatic resources are an absolute necessity to accomplishing this goal. 
The Arkansas Field office of The Nature Conservancy has successfully worked with a variety of corporations and municipalities to conserve ecologically unique and sensitive places throughout Arkansas. For example, a cooperative management agreement between the Arkansas Field Office and International Paper (IP), known as the Unique Areas Agreement, has led to the conservation of more than 3500 acres of sensitive lands within IP ownership across southern Arkansas.
The Unique Areas Agreement is an informal agreement that describes the unique nature of each site and outlines the management necessary to conserve the ecological integrity there. Implementation of the management and restoration of each site has been carried out by both TNC and IP, depending on the expertise required or the interest of the local IP forester. In some cases, TNC managed the site almost solely, and others IP staff took the lead. The program helped conserve a host of Conservancy target species and plant communities, and has led to the generation of excellent public relations for this timber company. In fact, the program has been used numerous times in local IP print advertisements. The excellent public responses to these ads and TNC press releases have led to similar agreements with the Weyerhaeuser Corporation and Alcoa.
BackgroundSprings are unique aquatic habitats that provide very constant habitat conditions for aquatic plant and animal species. In fact, many species have evolved under these conditions and have become dependent on this unique, stable habitat to survive. Unfortunately, this dependence on stable water conditions often means that these species are extremely susceptible to changes in habitat quality, and are therefore at risk of decline or even extinction. 
Researchers have identified a suite of organisms that are specifically associated with Ozark springs, including insects, crayfish, and fish. One such fish, the Arkansas darter, Etheostoma cragini, is found in the springs of the Ozark Ecoregion. This small fish has a maximum size of about 2 inches and is almost always found in association with aquatic vegetation such as watercress (Nasturtium officialale) in areas of gravel, sand, or silt substrate. Their diet includes snails and insects that inhabit spring runs.
In Arkansas, 5 populations of Arkansas darter were known in 1985, all in headwater tributaries of the Illinois River in the northwest corner of the state. Currently, the existence of only 3 of those populations has been confirmed. The American Fisheries Society has assigned a status of "vulnerable" to the Arkansas darter because of it dependence on spring-fed, vegetated headwaters and creeks that are plagued with environmental problems. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has reported that the Arkansas darter is in jeopardy across its range due to decline in groundwater that replenishes spring-fed habitats. In October, 1999, the Arkansas darter was designated a candidate species for listing under the Endangered Species Act.
One of the places where a strong population of the Arkansas darter is found is located within the city of Fayetteville - Wilson Springs. The Arkansas darter was first discovered there during the planning of the U.S. Highway 71 bypass around Fayetteville in 1979. The former director of the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, Steve Wilson, found the population prior to construction. Completion of the highway actually resulted in the springhead being covered by the highway; and a culvert system was built to extend the spring flow beneath the highway and offramp to its current outflow.
In the early 1990s, the City of Fayetteville began researching the feasibility of development of a tract of land that includes Wilson Springs and the associated spring run creek. The student chapter of the American Fisheries Society at the University of Arkansas worked with Mr. Richard Shewmaker, the city's Economic Development Coordinator at the time, to investigate the impacts of the proposed development on the darter. Since that time, the AFS student chapter has "adopted" the spring and continued to provide the city with valuable input, as well as monitor the darter population. By 1997, the City had drafted a preliminary plat of a research and technology park, and a fiber optic line was installed to facilitate development of the proposed park.
The feasibility of the proposed development of a research and technology park at the site was called into question in early 2001. Delineation of the wetlands on the property indicated more wetland than originally thought. Concerns were raised not only about the large amount of wetlands impacted by the proposed development, but also about the feasibility of the project as a whole. In early 2002, City of Fayetteville officials and the Chamber of Commerce proposed development of a business and technology park that would conserve the integrity of the wetland and spring system associated with Wilson Springs and promote harmony between environmental and business interests.
VisionTo conserve, in a working, urban landscape, the ecosystem processes that maintain the wetland function and aquatic species, both common and rare, found at the Wilson Springs site. Proposal Because of the ecological significance of Wilson Springs, The Nature Conservancy proposes to enter into a cooperative agreement with the City of Fayetteville to conserve this unique place. To achieve the vision described above through a cooperative agreement, we propose: 1. Conservancy and city staff work together to develop an park plat that is sensitive to the ecologically unique Wilson Springs and surrounding wetlands, as well the economic requirements of a business and technology park necessary to make it a successful development. A plan that meets these goals can be used to showcase the fact that conservation and economic development are not diametrically opposed as commonly thought. In fact, they can actually peacefully coincide, complimenting each other in the process. Similar Conservancy projects in the northeastern United States have been successful at attracting business and industry that want to maintain an environmentally friendly image. In fact, these developments are advertised as such. Similarly, the city will profit from a renewed commitment to the environment that will benefit the residents of the city by providing a healthier environment and additional outdoor recreational opportunities. An example development plat map is attached for review. This scenario conserves a large portion of the wetlands on the property, as well as those woodlands along Wilson Springs. However, it allows for the development of certain parts of the wetlands that are necessary to make the business and technology park economically feasible. Mitigation for these impacted wetlands can be met through restoration of wetlands in the proposed Mitigation shown in gray on the map. In proposing this scenario, effort has been made to ensure that past improvements on the property are utilized to their fullest capacity to minimize loss of investment. Similarly, this scenario will likely reduce the required levels of future infrastructure needs, such as roads. Phase I (surrounded by red on map) would have a total of 10 developable lots, with a future potential (based on original plan for a research and technology park) of another 26 or more lots (surrounded in orange on map). Therefore, the net loss as compared to the original plan would be only about 8 lots (approx. 12%). 2. The city of Fayetteville donates a conservation easement on the Wilson Spring Conservation and Mitigation Areas to The Nature Conservancy that formalizes the long-term conservation of the site. This component of the project is also important to making the business and technology park a truly "green" development that the city can use to attract businesses. Conservation easements are legal documents that are recorded with the deed and are designed to conserve property for the long term. Easements are extremely flexible and can be tailored specifically to the tract and to the landowners needs and long term goals. 3. The Nature Conservancy will facilitate cooperation between the City of Fayetteville and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to develop a Candidate Conservation Agreement for the Arkansas darter. While federal listing of the Arkansas darter is presently precluded by higher priorities, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has urged the City of Fayetteville to enter into such an agreement to protect the City from costly delays that could arise in the event that the species is listed during development of the business and technology park. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has recommended a two-part agreement that covers both construction of the business and technology park as well as infrastructure for wastewater lines scheduled to pass through the park property. 4. The Nature Conservancy completes an ecological assessment of the areas defined as the Wilson Springs Conservation and Mitigation Areas to document current plant and fish communities. 5. The Nature Conservancy develops a long-term management plan that outlines the restoration and management of the Conservation and Mitigation Areas. Specifically, management would focus on Wilson Springs and the surrounding wetlands with a goal of long term conservation of the plants and plant communities found there. Required mitigation for park development would be described in this plan, as well. 6. The Nature Conservancy, the local chapter of the American Fisheries Society, and the City of Fayetteville jointly implement the ecological management plan. Specifically, the Conservancy will use its expertise in ecological restoration and monitoring to complete the technical parts of the plan. Interested city employees and residents can work with Conservancy staff through a volunteer program to implement other integral parts of the plan, such as exotic plant removal. Similarly, local groups, including school clubs and boy scouts, will be engaged in order to implement various parts of the management and restoration/mitigation. Volunteer efforts have been key to the success of other Conservancy restoration and management projects across the state. 7. The Nature Conservancy will develop press releases that highlight the agreement and its significance to conservation of Arkansas' unique and rare places. A dedication of the site will also be held - local and statewide media will be invited. In addition, other press releases and media events will be developed as key stages of the restoration and management plan are completed. Articles for the Conservancy's Arkansas newsletter, Aboard the Ark, will also cover site activities regularly - more than 5000 members statewide receive this newsletter four times a year. Finally, annual reports will be submitted to the city documenting project activities.Protection of Arkansas' aquatic resources is an integral component to the overall conservation of the state's precious natural heritage. Fayetteville's ownership and dedication to the environment coupled with The Nature Conservancy's science-based expertise presents a unique opportunity conserve a high-priority, ecologically unique place, setting an example of stewardship for other municipalities to follow. For more information, please contact Mike Fuhr at (501) 614-5076.  Download this document (minus graphic) as Microsoft Word Document (1.8 Mb) |
