December 30, 2009

Update on the floodgates on the Greers Ferry Dam


After more than 10 days of emptying Greers Ferry Lake through the Greers Ferry Dam to around four feet above normal, almost all of it was wiped out last week with torrential rains. Christmas Eve saw heavy rains that raised the level of the Greers Ferry Lake to 471.2', over 10' above the normal pool level.

The intent of opening the floodgates was to "make room" for the spring rains, but these heavy rains have sort of spoiled that. The alternative was to do nothing, and then where would we be?

The Floodgates Are Open

For the first time in 27 years and only the second time ever, floodgates on the Greers Ferry Dam were opened earlier this month. On December 3rd, the Corps of Engineers, which operates the Greers Ferry Dam, opened two of the six flood gates in concert with releases through the hydropower plant turbines to relieve the high water levels that have brought the lake almost fourteen feet above normal.

The last time the dam floodgates were opened was in 1982 during a very wet year, not unlike the one we endured this year. After seven days the lake level is under nine feet above normal and should be at normal pool level of 461.44 in just a couple of weeks. This will allow the lake to start at a normal level as the wet season approaches early next year.

While reducing levels of Greers Ferry Lake, the Little Red River is raging. With about twice the normal water going downstream, less than 15,000 cubic feet per second, dock owners and anglers are warned.

If you get a chance to check out the dam, the JFK lookout is an excellent bird’s eye view and the sound is pretty awesome with tons of water pouring down the face of the dam. According to history, this event only takes place, on average, every twenty-four years.

The summer is here and that means the Heber Springs Fireworks Extravaganza is coming soon. This year the 4th of July falls on a Saturday and this year’s show will take place Saturday night at 9:30 p.m.

The customary three-day holiday will include Friday for most government employees since the holiday actually falls on the weekend.

Barring any torrential rainfall, the fireworks show will be at its customary location at Sandy Beach, located at the west end of Front Street in Heber Springs. Last year’s high water level moved the fireworks in town on Highway 25B making it much more difficult to see from the lake.

Be careful this summer, and come enjoy one of the festivals we will be having this summer on Greers Ferry Lake in Heber Springs.

For more information, please go to http://www.hebersprings.com/.

Sugar Loaf Festival

The Second Annual Heritage Day Celebration is this Saturday, May 16th at the ASU Heber Springs Campus from 11:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. The event will take place “Rain or Shine”.

Items and activities will include:
Illustrations of Trail Master Plan by Eastin Outdoors, Inc.,
Live music by The Happy Hour Band
Free lunch courtesy of Mack’s Fish House
“Early Bird” Free Balloon Rides from 7:30 to 9:00 a.m,
Live auction of hot air balloon flight for two people
Silent auction of Sugarloaf Mountain photographs
Charles Stuart - a history of Sugar Loaf Mountain
Mayor McPherson with the future and recollections of Sugar Loaf Mountain.
Bounce rides for the kids
Face painting
Kite flying
Arrowhead and insect displays
Souvenir t-shirts on sale

Trail hikes and summit climbs on Sugarloaf Mountain

*Guests will be encouraged to support the goals of the Sugarloaf Heritage Council by tax deductible donations by current IRS regulations for memberships and sponsorships.

Membership Levels: Students $5, Individuals $20, and Family $35
Sponsorship Levels: Approach $250, Trailhead $500, Ascent $1000, and Summit $2500
For more information please visit www.sugarloafheritagecouncil.org or call (501) 362-5858.
Come on! Bring the family, and support Sugarloaf!

Trails of Heber Springs

I have been running/jogging just about my entire life. I was a distance track athlete in the 80’s and I kept in shape after high school and college by road running. I would usually find a route along the streets close to my house so I could run before or after work. After years of basketball, other sports, and just plain ole age, my legs, especially knees and ankles were not what they used to be.

After years of running pavement, I decided to take it off the streets and find some terrain that would be more exciting, challenging and possibly less stressful on my joints. I began running the grassy hills of golf courses. I enjoyed it, but if you went in the spring, summer and fall months, there were going to be actual golfers who could take me down with one swing, and I felt like I might be imposing on their sport. I also ran roads outside of town that may be part gravel and part dirt and wind between different farms.

I finally found trail running. Its not like I just one day woke up and thought of running trails, my friend Alan and I would run park trails and walking trails around Little Rock, Fayetteville, and Russellville. Allsop Park, Bona Dea Trail, and the Agri field were some old trails to name a few.

I grew up in Heber Springs, Arkansas along the banks of the Greer’s Ferry Lake and the Little Red River. I moved away after high school in 1989 to make my fortune and see the world outside of the small, quaint resort town. After 20 years I moved back, better for the experiences and age, but very glad to be back “home”.

Of the things you don’t think about when Heber is not your full time residence, are the awesome trails we have here. I had started running parks, and trails during my years in Little Rock, including Pinnacle State Park, Murry Park, Big Dam Bridge, Allsop Park, Lake Sylvia, and others. I soon began inquiring about the trails around the area. I knew of Mossy Bluff Trail located behind the Carl Garner Visitor Center out by the dam. It had been constructed in the 80’s and I used to hike it high school. That was the first place I started going upon my arrival back in Heber. This time I was running/hiking them.

Mossy Bluff Trail has several routes that wind along the bluffs above the Little Red River just past the Greer’s Ferry Dam. It is wooded, hilly, and windy. This is what you think of as a “hiking trail”. I tried to take my young daughter with me one time and the terrain is just a little rough for her right now. It is definitely one of the more challenging trails we have here.

Josh Park Memorial Trail was constructed in the 90’s. I remember seeing it over the years, as I came back to the lake several times in the summer. It was not until I moved back and that I decided to give it a run. I discovered just how awesome it is. It is in woods that back up to Dam Site Park, which are campgrounds on the lake. The trail has mostly tall mature pines that align the well-made path that wind just over a mile to make a circle. There are a couple of hills, but many level spots. It is constructed not be too rough except for some run off places on the hills. This one, my young daughter can go along with me and I can even bring my baby son in a stroller. What is nice about this trail is there is one big loop with different cut-through loops that are marked by a map on the trail. This allows you to cut back to the beginning if need be. Those with young kids can easily imagine the scenario of a tiring child that just wants be carried needing to get back to the “base” as quickly as possible.

Collins Creek is really more known for its fishing but the hiking is unbelievable. Located off the road that winds down to the fish hatchery, the trail begins from the parking lot and quickly descends down to the mouth of the creek where an 18” pipe empties water off the bottom of the lake into the creek, making this a year round creek than runs into the river. Surrounded by large rocks and woods, the creek is a beautiful setting for your hike, walk, or run. The trail takes you over a bridge and cuts across a road that is inside JFK Park, which is a Corp of Engineers camping park on the Little Red River. Sometimes I begin trekking through the park and others I finish the trail which dead ends less that another ½ mile. What’s nice here is there is a unique little playground if you take a left on the park road in middle of the trail. I have taken my daughter there to play in the middle of our hike. This trail is spectacular in the fall with all the colors.

Sugar Loaf Mountain is a challenging trail to run. I usually hike, not run, this one since it is a steady rise all the way to the top. There are two Sugar Loaf Mountains in the Greer’s Ferry Lake area. One is on land in the city of Heber Springs, formerly known as Sugar Loaf in the 1800s, and one in the water, an island close to Fairfield Bay and the town of Greer’s Ferry. I have hiked both, but the island takes a bit more effort to get to and requires some planning. A boat is required to reach the island unless you plan on swimming too. This time, I will talk about the one in the town. It is located on Hwy 110 east. The turn off is on the right on Trailhead Road just past Arkansas State University at Heber Springs. The trail takes you up through the woods to the base of the rocky bluffs that surround the very top of the mountain. If you have ever been to Heber Springs, you have seen the Sugar Loaf Mountain top. The mountain has a unique look and is the unofficial symbolizing landmark of Heber Springs and the Little Red River.

There are several other trails in our area that I will write about at a later date. One I look forward to running is the lake trail by Sandy Beach. It is a three plus mile trek around the shores by the Heber Springs Marina and the little dike.

Updated: June 11, 2009. I recently ran the trail at Sandy Beach. I didn't make around the lake, but was able to run the trails near Sandy Beach and in the woods that run between the beach and the little dike. Good soft trail for nice off road running and especially enjoyed the run around a fishing pond nestled in the woods that most folks probably don't know about. Sandy Beach is located at the west end of Front Street in Heber Springs.