MOUNTAIN HOME, Ark. -- The Army Corps of Engineers, Little Rock District is hosting a series of open houses about the Bull Shoals Lake Draft Master Plan and Draft Environmental Assessment. The open houses will be held between Aug. 4 and Aug. 8 to share information about the draft documents and to collect public comments.
Anyone interested in the future management of Bull Shoals Lake is invited to drop in anytime during the open houses:
· Tuesday, Aug. 4 - from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Flippin Middle School Cafeteria, 308 North 1st Street, Flippin, Ark.
· Wednesday, Aug. 5 - from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Forsyth Public School Cafeteria, 178 Panther Road, Forsyth, Mo.
· Thursday, Aug. 6 - from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Lutie School, 5802 U.S. Highway 160 Theodosia, Mo.
· Friday, Aug. 7 - from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Arkansas State Sheid Center, 1600 S. College Street, Mountain Home, Ark.
· Saturday, Aug. 8 - from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the North Arkansas Community College, 303 N. Main, Harrison, Ark.
An informational video will be shown continuously during each open house. There will be maps of the proposed master plan alternatives to review and staff will be available to answer questions about the draft plan.
A draft Environmental Assessment, which evaluates the potential impacts of each alternative, will also available for review. The Corps is requesting comments on the draft master plan and the draft Environmental Assessment.
The Corps encourages public input at the open houses or written comments during the public comment period. The comment period closes Sept. 11. Comments can be mailed to: Army Corps of Engineers, Little Rock District, ATTN: Dana Coburn, P.O. Box 867, Little Rock, Ark., 72203. Comments may also be faxed to 501-324-5605 or emailed to CESWL-BSMasterPlan@usace.army.mil.
A master plan is the guidance document that describes how the resources of the lake will be managed and provides the vision for how the lake should look in the future. The master plan also provides the basis for the operational management plan, which guides day-to-day management activities of natural resources, and shoreline management plan, which guides private uses of public land and water.
The current Bull Shoals Lake Master Plan was developed more than 30 years ago and is outdated. The master plan revision classifies public lands around the lake based on environmental and socioeconomic considerations, public input, and an evaluation of past, present, and future trends. Several alternative plans have been developed for consideration.
The planning process has included an analysis of potential effects on the natural and social environment, including fish and wildlife, recreation opportunities, economics, land use, cultural and historical resources, aesthetics, as well as public health and safety.
The master plan sets the stage for implementation of the shoreline management program by establishing land classifications. Shoreline zoning, from a project’s shoreline management plan, then fits within the land classifications.
After the master plan is revised, the operational management plan and shoreline management plan will be revised to be consistent with the goals identified in the master plan.
More information about the master plan and the revision process is available on the Internet at http://go.usa.gov/3fZsG.
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