Thankfully I was not a resident when the water resources of Carroll County were damaged a few years ago. Now, again, there is potential for long term, possibly “forever,” damage to our water sources. Are you prepared for possibly an even more devasting water incident to occur?
There is a very good possibility this will happen if the Nimbus Project (Wind Turbine Facility) matures.
Why? Because the mountain elevation that is south of Green Forest, believe it or not, is rock; and, to create the necessary base for the projected 500+ to 650+ foot wind turbines will, I believe, require an enormous amount of extraction of the mountain rock.
The most logical means to achieve this goal will be to either blast with explosives or use very huge hydraulic jackhammers.
Either process will have extensive massive impacts to the fragile karst terrain. This particular type of land on this mountain is public knowledge. Please, consider the consequences of either option to our, your, water resources.
What can we do as citizens of Carroll County? Contact, and demand that David Writer, Carroll County Judge, and our JPs do something – protect our water rights! If you need their contact info inquire at the Carroll County Clerks’ Office (870) 423-2022.
Another option… file a complaint as stipulated in Carroll County Ordinance #2011-37, with the Carroll Court Quorum Court with reference to the 2011 Carroll County Land Use Ordinance (#2011-37) Page 20, “Water Resources.” This is a county law. By filing a complaint with/to the QC you are requiring they protect your water resources from potential damage that could be caused by the proposed wind turbine facility.
Our Carroll County QC and County Judge can stop this potential loss of our water supply. If you wish to contact our County Judge David Writer (870) 423-2967 or email countyjudge@carrollcounty.us.
If you need assistance with a complaint form please contact me, erichardwilliams@yahoo.com, and I will furnish a similar form that I filed with the County Clerk, as required by County ordinance, for presentment to the QC.
Remember the Tyson episode of water resources losses? This wind turbine facility could be worse. Thank you and please think about your family.
Richard Williams
These industrial turbines are projected to be approximately 700 feet high. They will require far more than anchored guide wires but foundations at least 30-40 feet deep and anchored to the bedrock. That can be accomplished only by blasting. Blasting in karst terrain has been shown to disrupt the underground aquifers. Why are the proponents of these industrial sized wind turbines (they aren’t cute Dutch-style windmills) so opposed to taking the time to study the possible damage caused by their construction and possibly finding a prudent way to allow them? What’s the rush? These wind turbines pose a serious fire risk as well. They are like oil cans on lightning rods. Carroll County doesn’t have the fire fighting equipment to reach them if the catch on fire. And if they do catch on fire, consider the downwind destruction! The landowners who want these turbines on their property must not think much of their neighbors if they are so willing to expose them to the risks they pose and the damage to their property values they will cause. The QC should adopt a moratorium on their construction in order research a proper way for these to be built (if at all) and in a way to minimize the risks to the residents of that area of the county.
While Mr. Miller is certainly entitled to his opinion, I respectfully disagree. The people who live in that area have every right to see that adequate safeguards and remedies are in place should their wells or spring-fed ponds be damaged. Frankly, they also have the right to protest the massive clearing of beautiful forested areas for service roads and turbine footprints, the widening of their roads and redirecting the curves of those roads to accommodate the large blades and the dangers posed by wind turbine fires.
The foundations for these turbines will require blasting because the foundations will need to be 30-40 feet deep. Forests will have to be cleared for these industrial wind turbines. (These are NOT Dutch-style windmills but wind turbines almost 700 feet tall!). The damage to the aquifers and the storm water runoff will be catastrophic. And these turbines notoriously catch fire and can cause environmental damage to the surrounding properties. They are like oil cans on lightning rods. The developer is an international corporation with no ties to Arkansas. The QC needs to put a pause on this to decide how best to allow them.
I’m not following your claims? How is excavation with blasting connected to the windmills? I’m sure that good anchors will be required but it can be done with boring then cementing the anchors to the rock.
“Our water resources” you’re referring to is actually beaver lake.
If you’re referring to local private wells most of those will be 800’ -1000’ 0r more that’s drilled on top and 10’-20’ of excavation will hardly impact that.
People with wells have more to be concerned with all the new illegal septic systems, or lack there of and all the cattle, goat and chicken farming, litter spread everywhere. Etc etc.
basically this is just bunch of fear mongering by the NIMBYS