Recently ECO has been focusing on Energy-Climate issues and Human Health & Industrial Farming (HHIF), but we remain dedicated to ensuring that Arkansas maintains its reputation as home to some of the most pristine and protected waters in the country.  Our Monitoring and Restoration projects are described below and our Climate and Human Health projects are detailed on individual pages - follow the links on the navigation bar to the left.
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Currently, ECO monitors 6 different streams (10 stations) across the state, all of which are federally listed as "Impaired" for exceeding limits of one or more particular chemical constituents.  Samples are taken every 41 hours for the duration of an entire year at each station.  This research is some of the most intensive water monitoring ever conducted on many of these systems.  In addition to 41 hour sampling, six full storm events are sampled for a period of 24 hours on each system.  Sample analysis has historically show that a portion of the systems are meeting federal standards for their particular listed chemical elements, but some do not.    

ECO's water quality program looks at number of systems around the state and is expanding this year to cover the West Fork of the White River, just outside Fayetteville.  ECO recently opened its second office in Fayetteville, with ECO’s Jeff Ward heading up the project and holding down the fort.  The 3 year West Fork project will study the effectiveness of a particular stream restoration project by collecting six months of data prior to restoration and a years worth post restoration.  “This will provide scientific data to either support such activities or show that the particular methods are not working."

Upper Saline River Watershed Water Quality Monitoring

Bayou Bartholomew Monitoring

Bayou Bartholomew Monitoring

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After all the hard work, the section of Swaggerty Creek RESTORED!

Over 19 species of fish have already been found in the restored section of Swaggerty Creek.  A fish count was conducted in conjunction with Arkansas Game and Fish Commission

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In conjunction with the Swaggerty Creek Habitat Enhancement Project, ECO is currently conducting an environmental education program with the children at the Thrasher Boys and Girls Club.  The group ranges in age from 7-10 and is filled with lots of smiling faces and curious learners.  ECO is teaching fundamental environmental themes from recycling to freshwater stream ecology.  ECO is integrating the education project with its’ Creek Restoration work through clean-ups and planting of native trees, flowers, and grasses.  The education project is an effort to get children outdoors and learning environmental science in a fun and affective way. Above this block of text are two pieces of recycled paper from the paper making workshop at Thrasher Boys and Girls Club. Below are two drawings made by children at the Boys Club of what they would like Swaggerty Creek to look like. 

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