Two weeks following a public workshop planned in early March, postponed amid complaints about only a seven-day notice of the meeting, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) has scheduled a drop-in public workshop from 2 – 7 p.m. March 16 at the Four Points by Sheraton Bentonville, 211 SE Walton Blvd., Bentonville, “to discuss the process to acquire private land parcels that are frequently inundated by Beaver Lake during normal lake elevations and make comments about the Draft Environmental Assessment. All interested persons are invited to attend the workshop.”
Some western Carroll County residents have protested what they call “the Beaver Lake land grab” by the USACE. Owners of the War Eagle Cavern had circulated a petition against the proposed acquisition that they said could harm their operation and tourism revenue.
Dr. David Harper said the Corps has shown no legitimate reason why they should have the right to take private property, and protests that USACE is making plans to take the most valuable part of people’s property, the shoreline that can flood at times. Harper says that he doesn’t consider his lakefront land that is underwater flooded any more than beachfront owners in Florida consider their wet sand flooded.
“Leave us alone,” Harper said. “We are happy. They should have bought this land back in 1968 if it was important to have. And they haven’t shown what private property owners are doing that is harming the function of the lake. If the Corps takes your private land, you will have to file for a permit to clear a six-foot path to the lake, and it will take years to get an answer. The USACE is very difficult to get permits from. They recently told me it would take two years to review my application for a permit to put solar power on my boat dock.”
The Corps’ most recent press release states the Flood Control Act of 1954 authorized construction of Beaver Lake for the purposes of flood control and hydroelectric power production. Subsequent legislation added recreation as an authorized public purpose, and there are several environmental and land use statutes that also apply to operations at Beaver Lake.
“A Real Estate Design Memorandum was developed prior to construction that identified land and interests necessary for the operation, maintenance, and control of the reservoir,” the press release states. “The methods and technology used at the time to identify and purchase these lands left several frequently inundated areas unacquired by USACE. As a result, the Federal Government boundary around Beaver Lake is uneven and at varying elevations.
“USACE is reviewing site-specific data at areas around the reservoir, the White River and War Eagle Creek where water routinely inundates privately-owned property at the seasonal conservation pool or flood pool. Currently, USACE estimates approximately 500 landowners are impacted. The acquisition of affected parcels is expected to take several years, contingent on available funding. The initial acquisition effort would target land that is routinely inundated.”
The USACE said at the drop-in public workshops, a short informational video will play continuously providing the opportunity for the public to learn more about the land acquisition plan, and representatives from the Little Rock District will be present to answer questions.
“The public’s input may be provided at the workshop or at any time during the public comment period,” the USACE press release states. “The draft Environmental Assessment will be released and posted on the Beaver Lake Land Acquisition webpage on March 9 and the public comment period will run from March 16 through April 15. Comments may be submitted via mail, email or fax with attention to: U. S. Army Corps of Engineers, Little Rock District, Real Estate Division, Attn: Chief, Acquisition Branch, P.O. Box 867, Little Rock, Arkansas 72203 or emailed to BeaverLakeAcquisitionPublicComment@usace.army.mil.”
For more information about the Beaver Lake Land Acquisition process, visit go.usa.gov/xtJgG.