ARKANSAS ENVIROTHON 2000

WETLANDS PRESENTATION PROBLEM

      Mr. Ike Allgood now owns, through inheritance, 320 acres of bottomland hardwoods in the Arkansas River Valley.  All merchantable timber has been harvested from this tract in recent years, however, a good stand of young hardwood timber remains.  A map of the property and a list of the plant species present are attached. 

     Mr. Allgood has dabbled in various business endeavors over the years and wants his new land holdings to turn a profit.  He has decided to clear his property, install drainage ditches, and put the land into production of a specialty crop.  Ike has close ties with a foreign pharmaceutical company that has guaranteed a very lucrative price for production of the crop.  Derivatives from the specialty crop will be used to produce a new cancer drug.

     The property is divided into two fields.  The soil present in both fields is a hydric soil.  All of Field 1 and half of Field 2 are prone to overflow for a week or more during the growing season, primarily from backwater from Gar Creek that flows through the tract and into the nearby Arkansas River.  The land that surrounds Ike’s property on the north, west, and south sides is cleared and is annually planted to rice and soybeans.  The eastern boundary adjoins a wildlife refuge where all hunting is prohibited.

     An old greentree reservoir exists in the southeastern portion of Field 1.  It comprises 30 acres of the field.  The pumps were removed by the previous landowner, and the levees would have to be reworked before the reservoir could be functional. 

     The soil is very wet-natured, and Ike has little use for this “plucky-muck” woodland in its present condition.  If he can clear timber and brush, install drainage, and crop the land, he can realize a profit from this “otherwise worthless piece of property.”  He plans to request assistance with the ditch survey and design from the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service.  Ike is firm in his belief that clearing this tract is the right thing to do.

     As an informed citizen with moderate understanding of wetland issues, consider Mr. Allgood’s intentions and discuss the following concerns of which Mr. Allgood may not be aware:

1.      What legal problems, if any, will Ike face if he converts the land that he owns and on which he pays taxes?  Who, if anyone, will care if the conversion is made?

2.      Does this tract of land serve any wetland functions?  If so, what are they and how do they affect off-site areas?  What are some wetland values of this tract?

3.      If this tract is converted to cropland, discuss some specific impacts on wildlife habitat that will result.

4.      Discuss other ways in which Ike could realize and gain some economic value from the property, instead of clearing the land and planting annually tilled crops.