By Joe Mosby
Arkansas News Correspondent
LITTLE ROCK — Deer hunting was opened Friday in a section along the lower White River by the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission at its meeting in Stuttgart Friday.
Modern gun deer hunting began last week, but hunting was prohibited in that area, known as Flood Zone F, after two water level gauges on the White River gave conflicting readings in the agency’s system of automatic closings for hunting when flood conditions are present.
One of the gauges, located at St. Charles, indicated water too high for hunting, but the gauge at Norrell indicated water levels within the allowable range for hunting.
Game and Fish commissioners were divided Friday on the action to open the zone, and the move passed by a 4-2 margin. The temporary action is for a 120-day period.
The opening of Flood Zone F, however, does not include the White River National Wildlife Refuge, said David Goad, the agency’s chief of wildlife management.
Flood zone rules have been in place for many years as a safeguard against possible overkills of deer when they are bunched on high ground in flooded regions.
With part of the wildlife-rich White River refuge in Zone F, the area is known for good deer populations along with big and healthy deer.
Goad told the commissioners that a similar change in Flood Zone F had been passed by the commission in 2005 but was later rescinded.
Several other flood zones along the White River remain closed because of high water, but Goad said some of those could re-open in the next few days as the river falls.
These zones are B, C, D and E. A possible complicating factor is a predicted rise on the Mississippi River which could back water up into the lower White River, including Flood Zone F.
In another issue that also divided the panel, the commissioners approved a plan for a minimum flow of water below Norfork Dam in Baxter County. The stretch of the North Fork River is a highly popular trout fishing area.
When water flows diminish, usually in late summer and fall, oxygen levels decline to the point fish are threatened. Years of intense negotiations with federal authorities have resulted in minimum flow regulations on the White River below Bull Shoals Dam, and the same is sought on the nearby North Fork.
Commissioner Emon Mahony of El Dorado introduced two amendments to the minimum flow agreement.
One, which would have been subject to an opinion from Attorney General Dustin McDaniel, failed in a 3-4 vote.
The other amendment, which would require a “risk assessment” study of possible liabilities with the minimum flow rules before they are effective, passed unanimously.
The study will be brought to the commissioners at their Dec. 16 meeting in Little Rock.
In other matters Friday, the commissioners:
—Accepted a donation of two acres of land on the Little Red River at the Arkansas 305 crossing in White County. A public access with boat launching ramp, parking area and bank fishing will be developed. The donation was by Mary Womack, D.F. Womack, Bob Monaghan and Patrick Monaghan.
—Approved budget increases for a fish habitat improvement project of $110,000 on the White River below Beaver Dam and for removal and reconstruction of Kelley’s Slab on Crooked Creek near Yellville for $250,000. Outside funding is involved on both projects.
—Agreed to open part of Lake Maumelle to trotline fishing, with Central Arkansas Water designating the area to be used for trotlining. Increased taking of catfish from the lake is an aim of the new regulation.
