AGFC begins flooding Dave Donaldson WMA

BROOKINGS - The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission placed gates in the
Little River Island structure this week on Dave Donaldson Black River
Wildlife Management Area in northeast Arkansas and began flooding the
upper and lower Little River Island green tree reservoirs in preparation
for this year's duck season.

According to AGFC regional supervisor Robert Zachary, work has been
ongoing at the WMA to replace siphons that help flood the area during
Arkansas' waterfowl season. "As of today, the contractor is far enough
into the job that we could now flood the Little River Island
impoundments without interference with the construction work. This will
allow the flooding of about 1,400 acres, or close to one-third of the
artificially flooded impoundments on the area," Zachary said.

A large pump may be placed near the location of the upper siphon to
provide some water for the other two impoundments that are normally
flooded by the upper siphon, Zachary explained. "If we can get this pump
in place, it will probably not completely fill the rest area and Reyno
impoundments by the beginning of waterfowl season, but it should give us
a good start. Once we are able to begin using the new siphons, which are
under construction, we should be able to fill the area within two weeks
or so," he explained.

The annual target date for placing gates in the Little River Island
structure is October 15, Zachary stated. "However, that is not a
deadline by any means. We generally consider October 15th a reasonable
date when we can begin diverting water into the impoundments to enhance
habitat for migratory waterfowl and other wildlife, and also allow us to
carry through on other objectives for the WMA," he said.

Drought conditions have duck hunters concerned about low water
conditions for the arrival of waterfowl season on the WMA as well as
other public hunting areas. "I know hunters are concerned about the
extremely dry conditions and low river levels, but this weather has been
ideal to accommodate the construction work and is probably a blessing in
disguise, considering the deteriorated condition of the old siphon
structure," Zachary said.

"We are being inconvenienced this year, but once the job is finished, we
undoubtedly will have the most dependable source of water for fall
flooding anywhere in the state. We have known for some time that the old
siphons were in extremely poor condition and that their complete failure
was imminent," he explained. "In a worst case scenario, if the old pipes
had collapsed before the new ones were installed, which is what we are
doing now, it could very well have been several years before conditions
were once again dry enough to construct a new structure. Our flooding
operations could have been interrupted for more than just one season,
possibly two or three," he added. If weather permits, the project should
be completed by the end of November.