Dam opponents reach out to state and federal officials

BENTONVILLE -- Opponents of the Lake Bella Vista dam voiced their opinions Thursday to more than a dozen state and federal officials in a letter-writing campaign.

Friends of Little Sugar Creek held the event, "Stop the Folly, Stop the Dam," from 11 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. at Compton Gardens.

The group wants the 100-year-old dam removed and Little Sugar Creek to be restored to its natural-flowing state, saying it would "re-create a living, flowing Ozark waterway; eliminate the unsightly and harmful algae blooms which de-oxygenate water and kill aquatic animals and plants; and provide new opportunities for family recreation along the creek."

The 14 officials on the mailing list included state and federal lawmakers, officials with state agencies and the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and President Barack Obama.

"My goodness, we're even writing Obama," said Eileen Neukranz of Fayetteville with a laugh when fingering through the stack of letters. "We might as well go to the top."

Participants had prewritten letters to sign and were given envelopes to address. The one-page letter expresses displeasure state and federal taxes will be used to rebuild the dam, which was built by a private company then given to the city about a decade ago.

"The State of Arkansas struggles to find funds to support important infrastructure like our roads," the letter reads. "Yet, the Arkansas Department of Emergency Management is giving Arkansas taxpayer money to Bentonville to rebuild a nonfunctional, obsolete dam."

The Association of State Dam Safety Officials declared the dam "failed" in March 2008 after it was topped during a storm. The association cited "hydrologic deficiencies (and) faulty materials" as the cause. The dam most recently flooded in December.

Bentonville's City Council approved a $478,800 design contract with CP&Y in December for a new dam. The work is expected to cost $3.5 million. The federal agency has committed $2.7 million to the city for the project. The remaining money will come from the Arkansas Department of Emergency Management and Arkansas Department of Economic Development. The city will not have to contribute.

The lake was deeded to Bentonville in November 2006. The Parks and Recreation Department oversees the property. The city has plans to develop the lake with more recreational amenities to make it a destination spot for tourists and recreational spot for residents, David Wright, parks and recreation director, said in December.

Those who oppose the dam argue restoring Little Sugar Creek to its natural flow would also provide recreational opportunities.

Thomas Sepulvado and Michael Moser were just two who participated in Thursday's event. The kayakers support natural-flowing waterways. Moser heard about the event through Facebook. It was the first time either had participated in a letter-writing campaign. The prewritten letters were convenient, Sepulvado said.

"I think if more people knew that, more people would absolutely be coming out to this," he said.

Neukranz said the letters hit all the important points. She said she wasn't certain they would make a difference, but had enough hope that she signed them.

"If I believe in this (cause), this is democracy in action," she said.

More than 20 people participated by 4 p.m.

"We're on path for a substantial turnout," Beth Keck, one of the event's organizers, said as more people entered the room. She said she expected more to come after work.

"We're going to have hundreds of letters mailed as a result of today's turn out."

NW News on 02/12/2016