On Jan. 9, the complete White River watershed – 27,900 square miles in Missouri and Arkansas – was declared a National Blueways System, only the second such designation by the U.S. Department of the Interior since the system was created May 24, 2012. On July 3, the decision was rescinded.
“The blueway had become so fracturing and divisive that it had to be rescinded,” said David Casaletto, Ozarks Water Watch president and executive director.
Opponents say the voluntary nomination could have had unintended consequences.
“The National Blueways System is gone from Missouri and I will fight to ensure it does not return,” said Missouri Rep. Jason Smith, R-Salem, in a news release. “This is an incredible victory for my constituents who were rightly concerned the designation would lead to new regulations and land grabs in the future.”
The White River watershed was nominated by more than 26 stakeholder groups – including the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Lower Mississippi Valley Joint Venture, Nature Conservatory and Audobon Society – for participation in the entirely voluntary and locally driven National Blueways System. According to the DOI, there are no new regulations, rules or requirements associated with recognition as a National Blueway, nor are there any changes in private property or water rights.
According to Ozarks Water Watch, Blueways desigination includes cabinet-level recognition leading to increased awareness, partner involvement, visitation, technical assistance and access to expertise, increased competitiveness for grants and other economic opportunities. However, area landowners felt their voice wasn’t being heard.
“Landowners in the watershed were left out of the designation process,” said Missouri Farm Bureau President Blake Hurst, in a release. “We strongly believe that decisions involving land use must be locally led and supported by landowners.”
Ozark Water Watch’s Casaletto said the nomination had good intentions but was shortsighted in the consultation process.
“The White River Blueways application was written by a group of organizations that have successfully worked together in the Cache River watershed, a sub-watershed of the White River,” he said via email. “Not only landowners should have been consulted, but all stakeholders. The original applicants never intended to exclude them, but as they said in the application, they intended to bring everyone on board after, if the designation was made.”
According to the DOI, the designation was designed as part of the America’s Great Outdoors Initiative to establish a community-driven conservation and recreation agenda for the 21st century and would help coordinate federal, state and local partners to share information and resources, promote best practices and encourage active and collaborative stewardship of rivers and their watersheds across the country. National Blueways are chosen because they are nationally significant and valued for their recreational, economic, cultural and ecological assets.
“I saw the designation as an award,” Casaletto said. “I felt it recognized our watershed for outstanding work in protecting the environment and water quality. However, it is unknown if there would have been any actual benefits or not. There was never any funding spelled out in the designation, just a chance for preferred status.”
Casaletto said while the White River watershed may have missed out on some federal funding, he believes it’s better to have voluntary projects and programs local property owners are comfortable with.
In the wake of the rescission, Rep. Billy Long, R-Mo., has joined Smith to call for a hearing of the Natural Resources Committee to determine how the National Blueways System designation was initially imposed and how future designations can be prevented. A public hearing – Stopping Federal Land and Water Grabs: Protecting Property Rights from Washington, D.C., Edicts – is slated for 1 p.m. July 29 in the West Plains Civic Center.
The 410-mile-long Connecticut River and its 7.2 million-acre watershed – covering areas of Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts and Connecticut – remain the only National Blueways System designated area in America. Casaletto said he doesn’t expect White River constituents to seek the designation again anytime soon.
This installment of Springfield Business Journal’s Architects & Engineers Project Report showcases 26 endeavors by area design and engineering professionals.
