The Arkansas Pollution Control and Ecology Commission on Friday upheld the state's decision to suspend two permits for in-stream mining on Crooked Creek.
The commission rejected an appeal by Guy King and Sons Inc. of the January decision to suspend mining operations on the stream, listed as an impaired stream under the federal Clean Water Act.
The stream is considered impaired because of repeated violations of the water quality standard for temperature in the stream. In-stream gravel mining normally creates a wider and shallower stream channel, which results in higher water temperatures due to solar heating.
Crooked Creek flows 82 miles through Newton, Boone and Marion counties. The Guy King sites were among five permits on the creek that were suspended by the state earlier this year.