Saturday’s 13th annual War Eagle Appreciation Day featured a canoe-based stream cleanup on the War Eagle to remove trash from recent flooding and offer free family- friendly activities at Withrow Springs State Park’s Keith Ham Pavilion.
The event featured local organizations with educational and interactive activities focused on water, wildlife, history, tourism and more. Cornerstone Bank grilled lunch for participants and volunteers, and were awarded the 2017 War Eagle Steward Award for leadership in water quality protection and stewardship of natural resources at their newest branch in Huntsville.
Music, sponsored by the William Rufus Stephens Jr. Memorial Fund, included a live bluegrass performance by The Mountain Gypsies, a local family from Madison County.
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A volunteer displays a piece of trash she pulled from War Eagle Creek on Saturday.
Sponsors and partners included Arkansas State Parks (Withrow Springs and Hobbs), Arkansas State Tourism, Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, Arkansas Canoe Club, Arkansas Department of Health, Beaver Water District, Beaver Watershed Alliance, City of Huntsville, Coca-Cola, Cornerstone Bank, Keep Arkansas Beautiful, Lewis & Clark, Northwest Arkansas Community College, Ozark Water Watch, Pack Rat, Patagonia, War Eagle Mill and the Watershed Conservation Resource Center.
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With a canoe loaded with debris, a volunteer prepares to take a break Saturday during the annual War Eagle Appreciation Day.
The Beaver Watershed Alliance is formed of a diverse stakeholder group representing agricultural, recreation, conservation, water utility, business, and private landowner perspectives who all work together for the benefit of Beaver Lake and its watershed. To learn more about BWA, best management practices for water quality, or how you can become involved in voluntary watershed protection go to www.beaverwatershed alliance.org or contact BWA at 479-750-8007 or info@beaver watershedalliance.org.
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Some of the people who volunteered for the 13th annual War Eagle Appreciation Day display some of the tires and bags of trash they collected on Saturday.
