Real Talk Behind the Watershed

04/03/2025

Update: HB failed committee. SB was amended and sent back.

🚨 HAPPENING TOMORROW: TWO IMPORTANT BILLS IN THE ARKANSAS SENATE 🚨

The Arkansas State Senate is discussing two bills after 10am tomorrow that could impact both animals and the environment:

🔹 House Bill 1611 (HB1611) – Addresses changes to current laws on cockfighting. We all know allowing cockfighting leads to more dogfighting in the state, where cats and dogs are used for bait.

🔹 Senate Bill 290 (SB290) – Proposes changes to environmental protections for the Buffalo National River.

Contact your state senator before 9am 4/2 to politely express your thoughts.

🔍 Find your senator here: https://senate.arkansas.gov/senators/senator-search/

Pro-Tip: add your elected officials in your phone contacts so you can easily reach them. It's a great way to spend those few minutes when you're in your car waiting for something and ya just need to let out a little steam.

09/22/2019

Tomorrow is the deadline for submitting comments on the changes to Rule 5 & Rule 6 regarding a moratorium on the size of swine cafo's in the Buffalo National River watershed. Comment Period Extended for Proposed Changes to Regulations 5 & 6
APC&EC has extended the comment period on the Rule 5 rulemaking and Rule 6 rulemaking. The extended comment period will now end at 4:30 p.m. on September 23, 2019. Written comments can be mailed to or received at the Division of Environmental Quality Headquarters located at 5301 Northshore Drive, North Little Rock, AR, 72118. Comments may also be submitted by email to [email protected]. For more information on these and other regulations and rules please visit

The regulations adopted by the Arkansas Pollution Control and Ecology Commission (APC&EC) are the basis for ADEQ's permitting, monitoring and enforcement programs, public involvement activities and other services.

07/03/2019

Enjoy an afternoon of music, food, games, and more at Hoot Fest. All proceeds go to White River Waterkeeper and I can't express how much relief I have knowing Jessie is here when Arkansans needs her most.
Many think she draws a salary from somewhere, but the truth is the only salary she draws is from our fundraisers and memberships. Mostly she's been a volunteer these last 2 years, so I'm happy to host Hoot Fest and ask if you can't attend and support her, will you become a member? It is her passion for people and the environment that keeps her working for you.
http://www.whiteriverwaterkeeper.org/hootfest

06/13/2019

VENDOR (KFSM) -- The large hog farm operating for the past two years near the Buffalo National River will shut down as part of an agreement with the state, according to Gov. Asa Hutchinson. The farm will receive $6.2 million -- largely in public dollars -- as compensation for shuttering the farm and...

06/06/2019

This!

The river will be given the legal rights of a person in a world first

10/23/2018

Interesting, I had to check other communities to see how there schools were doing compared to Jasper, Harrison, & Mt Judea.

The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette is the largest source for award winning news and opinion that matters to you. Featuring up to the minute breaking news and the most in-depth Razorback, business, and political coverage in Arkansas.

10/08/2018

After paying my taxes I like to find out how much Newton County and other counties in the watershed of the Buffalo National River receive form the Department of Interior. Newton County received $583,374 this year. Check this site for other county $'s.

10/06/2018

2 public hearings for support of ADEQ's decision to deny C&H Hog Farms permit. One in NLR and one in Jasper, Ar.

10/04/2018

Now is the time to let our state ADEQ know you support their decision to deny C & H Hog Farms Regulation 5 permit # 5264-W. They made the decision to deny it and now they need to hear from you. Its easy, only takes as long as you want it to and its your contribution to preserving the Buffalo National River.

You do not have to be an Arkansas resident, all comments are accepted.

Last date to comment is October 17 by 4:30 pm http://water.adeq.commentinput.com/?id=m45xxd

I am including the 'Statement of Basis' written by ADEQ for the denial.https://www.adeq.state.ar.us/water/bbri/c-and-h/pdfs/20180917-statement-of-basis.pdf

09/25/2018

Check out the number of jobs lost from factory verses farmers. Shocking!

More than 40 families in Iowa are fighting to contain the spread of concentrated animal feeding operations.

09/22/2018

Last month I spoke to the Pollution Control and Ecology Commissioners and presented the 2 letters Mike Masterson speaks of. Mike's writes it better than I, but when your Department of Health posts letters that restrict use of waters for recreation and consumption about a river that is one of the most protected in the country it is overwhelmingly sad. After all, tourism is the state's 2nd largest industry and now the decline in tourism has already begun in the Buffalo National River and that will trickle down to us all.

The Buffalo River Watershed Alliance was formed to prevent pollution of the Buffalo National River watershed through monitoring, advocacy, and public policy initiatives to promote environmentally responsible development and agriculture.