Recovering Tree Canopy in the Illinois River Watershed
The Northwest Arkansas portion of the Illinois River Watershed is faced with critical challenges that pose threats to our vital forested areas and to our water quality.
The 2019 tornado and following damaging weather events stretching from Siloam Springs to Cave Springs and to Rogers have reduced important tree cover and vegetation that is needed to help combat the flooding and erosion issues which are affecting the resiliency, lives and livelihoods of families and farmers downstream. IRWP’s is calling all volunteers to help expand riparian and lost tree canopy at the IRWP Sanctuary and Learning Center and will be holding other tree plantings throughout the region later this year.
Impervious surfaces, or spaces that do not soak in or retain stormwater, are increasing in our region and areas that once were vegetated pasture lands, prairies, wetlands, and forests are transformed as the Northwest Arkansas economy grows and land uses are shifted toward urban applications. Many of the smaller towns outlying the urbanized cities of Fayetteville, Springdale, Rogers, and Bentonville are rapidly developing, some with growth rates outpacing these big four. As the small towns develop, forested and open or green spaces are carved away for residences. Tree canopy in the Illinois River Watershed is also affected by the changing weather patterns, which include increasingly severe and more damaging floods and tornadoes. More precipitation and year-round base flow is stressing the tributaries of the Illinois River and causing riparian erosion, leading to further tree canopy loss. Much of the stormwater infrastructure of the region is proving unable to keep pace with the growing population and increased precipitation, and the “grey” infrastructure that served us well in the 1900s is outdated and failing.
Thank you to State Farm and Arbor Day Foundation for supporting the recovery of trees in Northwest Arkansas. Join our Kick-Off Event or subsequent Tree Recovery Events to help us establish lost canopy!
Please contact morgan@irwp.org if your property was affected by the 2019 tornado and you would like to participate in this tree recovery program. Private and public lands are eligible.
