U.S. Army Corps of Engineers seeking to purchase land from landowners near Beaver Lake

Corps of Engineers Targets Flood-Prone Land Near Beaver Lake

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is planning to buy property around Beaver Lake in Northwest Arkansas, focusing on areas that frequently flood. This effort stems from the region’s rapid growth, which emphasizes the need to preserve the lake’s water quality.

Property owners have expressed concern about the plan, fearing that if the corps owns the land, they will need permits to maintain it and that the corps has not done a good job in managing its current holdings. The corps, however, assures that acquiring these lands is crucial for maintaining the lake’s water quality and ensuring the protection of nearby drinking water sources.

A public meeting was held to discuss the details and answer questions, where corps staff stayed for five hours to engage with property owners and provide information on the process. The corps estimates that around 500 landowners will be impacted, with each property averaging about a quarter of an acre.

The acquisition process, which may take several years depending on available funding, will involve third-party appraisals to determine fair prices for the affected properties. However, the uncertainty of the timeline leaves property owners in limbo, as they are unable to sell their properties with the acquisition hanging over them.

A recent meeting was held at the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, where landowners could discuss their specific parcels with Little Rock District representatives. This effort is part of a larger study on land acquisition for Beaver Lake, which began in 2021.

The Beaver Lake land acquisition project aims to fill gaps in the corps’ original purchases made before the lake was completed in 1966. Property owners can find more information, including NEPA documents and interactive maps, on the corps’ website.

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