Ark. canoe enthusiasts focus on conservation, too

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Diane Cheshier just wanted to learn how to kayak.

Fast forward seven years. The kayak has flipped, and the one-time neophyte is immersed in leading the organization that helped give her those paddling skills the River Valley Chapter of the Arkansas Canoe Club. The local chapter is one of seven statewide dedicated to safety, education and conservation.

"Don't forget fun, too," said Cheshier.

In its current form, the club's 75 local families of canoers, kayakers and rafters have been organized for about 15 years.

She said it's the third-largest chapter in Arkansas. To further conservation, it participates in cleanup efforts along the Mulberry River. Recently, members participated in one on Lee Creek.

"They not only are out there using the rivers and streams for recreation, but they're also out there taking care of them," said Jon Pennington, Washington County Cooperative Extension Service agent. "I think that's a pretty good deal."

He said the canoe club turnouts usually are good, even pulling in participation from members in chapters as far away as central Arkansas.

Mostly that involves collecting and properly disposing of litter and debris, said Cheshier. Logjams and other naturally occurring obstacles in the water usually are left alone.

"Sometimes logjams are good for ecosystems so we don't usually clear those," she said. "... Outfitters on the river usually take care of those anyway. Logjams are kind of controversial. We definitely make people aware of it. You know if you're in a kayak, then you probably don't have a chain saw with you."

In addition to the canoe club and the Crawford and Washington county extension services, the Washington County Environmental Affairs Office, Devil's Den State Park and U.S. Forest Service participated in Saturday's cleanup.

Along the Mulberry, the canoe club also is working to install some steps near a new river access point to try to channel people into a narrower path that will limit foot traffic on the rest of the site, Cheshier said.

She and some other club members also are concerned about the proposed Pine Mountain Dam water project.

"It's a special place that we would prefer they didn't dam," Cheshier said.

The River Valley Regional Water District is looking at the idea of damming part of Lee Creek to form Pine Mountain Lake and build a water supply for the area.

Environmental issues don't define the canoe club, which primarily is a recreational group focussed on safety and education.

In addition to encouraging the use of personal flotation devices, required by Arkansas law for children on the water, the canoe club also tries to teach folks on rivers and streams about how cold water is in the winter and how exposure to it can lead to hypothermia.

Fall and winter are popular times for kayaking and whitewater pursuits because autumn rains bring wetter weather and higher water levels.

The canoe club also offers daylong swift water rescue courses to foster safe practices.

An Arkansas Canoe Club Rendezvous including skills clinics, raffles and a cookoff is slated for Friday through Sunday at Lake Catherine near Hot Springs. Its cost is $15 per person with a maximum charge of $30 per family.

At 6 p.m. Oct. 15, the River Valley Chapter will gather for a "meet, greet and eat" event at La Huerta Mexican Restaurant, 400 Garrison Ave., Cheshier said.