The little river watershed located in southwest arkansas is an arkansas wildlife action plan tier 1 conservation opportunity area and is part of the historical range of the federally threatened…

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) awarded a $2,250,000 Project Grant under the National Fish Passage Program (CFDA 15.685) to the Arkansas Game & Fish Commission (AGFC) to mitigate five low water crossings in the Robinson Creek watershed. The project aims to restore Robinson Creek as a free-flowing stream for approximately 150 miles by removing or replacing the crossings with box culverts or span bridges. This will improve sediment transport, water quality, and aquatic habitat connectivity, benefiting species like the federally threatened leopard darter. Concurrent streambank stabilization and natural channel design techniques will be utilized to further enhance ecosystem function and climate resilience in the watershed. The project represents a collaborative effort between AGFC, Polk County, and Weyerhaeuser Inc. to address conservation priorities outlined in the Arkansas Wildlife Action Plan and the leopard darter recovery plan.

The little river watershed located in southwest arkansas is an arkansas wildlife action plan tier 1 conservation opportunity area and is part of the historical range of the federally threatened leopard darter in arkansas and oklahoma. The leopard darter draft recovery plan identifies preservation of spawning habitat and water quality in the robinson fork river and modification or elimination of stream crossing barriers to dispersal as recovery actions for the species. To address these conservation concerns the arkansas game and fish commission will partner with polk county and weyerhaeuser INC. To mitigate five low water crossings in the robinson creek watershed by removing or replacing them with either box culverts set below the natural stream bed or span bridges that provide transport of sediments and flow to 50 to 100 percent of the natural stream channel. This will restore robinson creek as a free flowing stream for approximately 150 miles and reduce the amount of sediment entering these streams at the road crossings. Concurrent with the removal of the barriers natural channel design techniques will be utilized to stabilize the associated streambanks and restore sediment transport functions of the stream. This will allow sediment and nutrients to be transported downstream effectively thereby improving water quality which will benefit the aquatic community in robinson creek. When combined these actions will simultaneously enable aquatic species to access upstream spawning grounds and diverse habitats. Healthy populations of these species is important for sustaining ecological integrity and this project will increase the resilience of these populations to climate induced changes in water temperature flow patterns and habitat availability by giving them the freedom to move within the system. Restored ecosystems can also help mitigate climate change by promoting the accumulation of organic carbon in soils and vegetation contributing to global climate stabilization efforts. This project represents a proactive approach to enhancing climate resilience by restoring the natural function of ecosystems and waterways and can play an important role in building a climate resilient community. The project will also strengthen community resilience through reduction of flood risk to surrounding jurisdictions improved transportation and cleaner water. Allowing rivers to meander naturally increases absorption of excess water in their riparian areas during flood events helping reduce the impacts of high flows. This natural flood attenuation capacity helps to safeguard communities and infrastructure from flood damage while also reducing economic losses during these events. The improved road crossings would alleviate issues for area residents as they commute for daily needs such as work food and medical care during flash flood events that inundate the current low water crossings. IT will also improve access for emergency services including firefighting and EMS during these events. Stabilization of streambanks and unpaved roads that are contributing fine sediment to this stream will also improve water quality for the sevier county rural water authority distribution network.