Bowman is a well respected biologist
Bella Vista POA biologist Darrell Bowman's public comments regarding the benefits of un-damming Lake Bella Vista and restoring Little Sugar Creek are the researched findings of an educated professional in the field of stream restoration.
Mr. Bowman is regarded as one of the state's leading biologists working in the field of stream and lake ecology. He is respected throughout the state of Arkansas for carefully and meticulously managing seven lakes in Bella Vista and their respective watersheds.
His knowledge in his field of expertise is demonstrated by the fact that the Bella Vista lakes are clean and functional. If algae blooms occur, they are removed with a boat and nets rather than flushed downstream, like Bentonville has done with Lake Bella Vista's algae.
In Bella Vista lakes, swimming is permitted and swimming and fishing decks are maintained; however, Lake Bella Vista is a different story.
Swimming in Lake Bella Vista is not only ill-advised but prohibited by Bentonville city ordinance. Silt and debris have washed into the lake creating a toxic shallow lagoon where large tree branches have settled and can be seen rising eerily out of the water.
The effluence flowing into Lake Bella Vista is 20 to 50 times greater than the lakes in Bella Vista, causing massive accumulation of mud and debris on the lake bottom. Lake Bella Vista's 600-foot-long dam stretches across a valley that is only about 1,300-feet wide, leaving less room for park space and walking trails.
But there is hope. Drowned beneath this obsolete reservoir is a beautiful creek ready to be revived, all we need to do is listen to the educated professionals, people like Mr. Bowman. Like the bumper sticker says, "If you think education is expensive, try ignorance."
The crumbling dam offers an opportunity to reconnect Little Sugar Creek with its headwaters for the first time in 100 years.
The Lake Bella Vista dam is classified as a failed dam due to having been constructed with faulty materials in 1915. Completely rebuilding a dam for a poorly sighted lake is the ultimate misuse of our natural creek.
We have a once in a lifetime opportunity to restore a part of our natural Ozark history and create a park with a natural, flowing waterway for everyone to enjoy. Too many generations have been denied access to this spring-fed water.
It's time to change that. Tell the Bentonville mayor and City Council to listen to the scientific facts and remove this harmful dam so we can restore Little Sugar Creek to its natural state.
Greg Van Horn
Rural Bentonville
Editorial on 08/19/2015