Springs Piped and Protected at the Wests’ Farm

Did you know that Benton and Washington counties produce more beef cattle than anywhere else in Arkansas? Over half of the cattle in the state are raised in these two counties alone. One of the main goals of IRWP’s Riparian Restoration Program is to ensure that we continue to have a reliable source of abundant, clean water for all those beef cattle!

Randy West’s family has been on their Washington County farm since 1860. In fact, Randy’s great-great grandmother’s house was the Union army hospital during the battle of Prairie Grove. 

The Wests have two year-round springs on the farm. Randy’s father and grandfather cut ditches to carry the water more than a mile across their bottom pastures. Because these particular fields are flat, the water flows slowly, and the ground tends to stay mucky and wet. Cattle traffic makes the water turbid, and the ditches require regular maintenance to keep the water moving.

With funding from IRWP’s Riparian Restoration Program, Randy was able to pipe the springs underground across his property using nothing but the power of gravity. The pipes deliver clean spring water to seven livestock tanks. The tanks are constructed from recycled mining truck tires, hauled all the way from South Dakota. Each one weighs over 5,000 lbs! After filling the tire tanks, the water runs back underground until it flows crystal clear into the Muddy Fork of the Illinois River.

IRWP is proud to serve families like Randy and Cheryl’s. And we are proud to have a part in work that ensures clean water for the people and cattle in our watershed for generations to come.

Need help finding creative solutions to water-related issues on your farm or ranch? Reach out to our Restoration Specialist, Travis Chaney, to learn if your property is eligible for funding through our Riparian Restoration Program. travis@irwp.org  Or, visit our website: www.irwp.org/rrp