Just in time for the last gasp of summer, the Arkansas River has recovered its pre-flood form.
The sight of a barge chugging along a few weeks ago brought cheers from residents along River Road in North Little Rock. Now, early morning brings the serene sight of fishing boats drifting quietly along glassy backwaters and near the river's banks as occupants cast lines in the ever-clearing water, no longer the hideous shade of muddy red-brown that surged eastward all through the early months of summer. For a while, it even looked worse than the murky Red River flowing through Shreveport.
Persistent rains and saturated earth in Oklahoma set the stage for the deluge, which pushed its way downstream for lack of anywhere else to go.
It's so easy to forget what it looked and felt like, just as it's hard to judge a river's height when all the guideposts have disappeared beneath the increased depth. For reference, there's a tall blue pole on the west side of Rockwater Marina on Rockwater Boulevard in North Little Rock. Toward the top, there's a red ring painted nearly 30 feet up in the air. That ring was painted by Rockwater developer Jim Jackson when it seemed like the entire pole was about to become submerged. That's how high the water rose.
The marina was designed to float in such a situation; it had only a few feet left on its pilings when the rains finally stopped.
On July 30, the Army Corps of Engineers lifted a small-craft advisory for the river that extended from the Arkansas-Oklahoma state line to Sanders Lock and Dam in Pine Bluff. Those who spend time around the river are thrilled to see the return of motorboats, sailboats, kayaks, water skiers, paddleboard yoga practitioners, and other sorts of water adventurers that were forced out in the months when the river was far higher than it is now.
Birds are back, as are raccoons, beavers, armadillos, and other wildlife that made themselves scarce in the last few months. According to the state Game and Fish Commission, there is no need to be concerned for the fish and their habitat in the river following the floods. And they are perfectly safe to eat.
Although the high waters, along with frighteningly fast currents and loads of free-floating debris, have receded, boaters and recreational river users should keep in mind that the landscape has changed. According to KTHV, boaters are advised to use caution due to sand and sediment that has built up in new locations.
Debris isn't nearly the problem it was, but some is still moving near the water's surface, and rock structures along the bank of the river are beginning to resurface--some being shallow enough and hidden enough to cause damage before being noticed. Even though the landscape may look familiar, be aware that danger may still lurk beneath the surface.
A little further inland, much of the Arkansas River Trail has reopened for bicyclists, walkers, and runners to enjoy. An area just east of Big Dam Bridge on the north side of the river is still undergoing cleanup of the massive tangle of trees that toppled during the flood as well as mini-mountains of silt and sand on the paved route that can unseat the balance of those on road bikes with skinny tires.
Summer, truncated though it's been for river rats, has returned.
Editorial on 08/26/2019