“The Illinois River is an overlooked recreational asset for the region.”
Northwest Arkansas will soon reach one million residents, all of whom will have an impact on the Illinois River Watershed in both Arkansas and Oklahoma. If we, as a region, hope to do the hard work necessary to protect and conserve the Illinois River Watershed throughout this growth period, then promoting responsible inclusive recreation opportunities must be an important part of our strategy. Through recreation, we will create opportunities for meaningful personal experiences on the river. These experiences lead to knowledge, which leads to connection, which leads to stewardship.
The Upper Illinois River Conservation Based Recreation Master Plan has been prepared with recommendations. We welcome feedback on this plan by emailing it to contact@irwp.org. Thank you!
On April 5th, 2022, a group of 45 stakeholders met at the IRWP Learning Center in Cave Springs to envision the future of recreation on the Illinois River in Arkansas. To see river recreation managed in an effective way, the group agreed that it is imperative for diverse stakeholders to actively collaborate to foster a river recreation culture that:
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Watersheds are managed effectively when the innovative ideas and new partnerships come together to find solutions. We are committed to bringing these people, resources and ideas together.
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The land along the Illinois River is majority privately owned. Respecting the private property rights of landowners goes hand-in-hand with recreational use of the river.
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Creating opportunity for the voices of people with different ideas and backgrounds to be at the table will create more opportunities to connect with and use the river.
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The Illinois River and its tributaries offer unique places that hold untapped economic potential and cultural significance.
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We know what happens when we don’t get ahead of recreation in beautiful places. We don’t want to look back and wish we would have thought about that.
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With recreation on the water comes risk. We will support safe recreation.
Over the last two years, the public and stakeholders have contributed to the Upper Illinois River Conservation Based Recreation Master Plan. Datasets that went into assessing ecological sensitivity are available here.
We will building out online tools and invite participation through the Public Input Map or by emailing us at contact@irwp.org.
The Illinois River has excellent recreation opportunities like the Siloam Springs Kayak Park and the WOKA Whitewater Park in Oklahoma!
These recreational destinations along the Illinois River offer families the chance to create lasting memories while connecting with the watershed, fostering a responsible river culture that is passed down through generations.
Tubing at the WOKA Whitewater Park.
FREE LIFE JACKETS to wear while visiting the Siloam Springs Kayak Park from April - September
Help save lives by encouraging ALL to wear a life jacket.