Fri, Nov 6 2020 at 8:00 AM
From friend Margaret Britain:
I’m concerned about plans for a development just north of the intersection of Zion Road and Hwy 265 that I think will have a huge impact on the water quality in Lake Fayetteville. If you agree, please send a short email to jmasters@fayetteville-ar.gov (Jessie Masters) TODAY (planning meeting deadline) that voices your concern. I’m including my letter to Jessie below not to use as a template; just to give you some details regarding my concerns.
Here it is:
Dear Jessie, As a Fayetteville resident who is frequently rowing on Lake Fayetteville, I am very concerned with the proposed Chandler Crossing development. As I’m sure you are aware, the water quality of Lake Fayetteville is not good, with sediment and Phosperos coming in from Clear Creek clearly the culprit. The lake has experienced repeated dangerous blue-green algal blooms (microcystin toxin), which correlate to the eutrophic conditions in the lake.
The lake has become an important outdoor destination for hikers, bikers, rowers, kayakers, and fisherman. It’s on the square to square bike route, and therefore has visitors from throughout the region. The lake deserves to be protected.
I’m afraid that the Chandler Crossing development, with ~400 houses within the lake’s nearby watershed, will negatively impact the lake’s water quality. The plan includes miles of impervious surfaces: roofs, roads, sidewalks–all surfaces that will move sediment and P laden run-off directly into the adjoining creeks without the natural filters that a plant rich riparian zone can provide. Neighbors have provided photos to you demonstrating recent flooding.
I’m sure the planning commission is also aware that Lake Fayetteville is the City’s back-up water supply. For that reason alone, we should be careful of developments in the watershed.
One of the recommendations in the Watershed Conservation Resource Center’s report (funded in part by the City of Fayetteville) was to “Conserve family farms as working farms . . .” This ~80 acre plot was until recently a working farm.
I realize that we cannot stop growth completely in an area where the population is increasing, but I would ask that you pause and reconsider this development with the health of the lake in mind. Can the land be preserved or developed in a way that will have less of an impact on our water supply?
Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely, Margaret Britain, Fayetteville, AR
mmbritain@gmail.com
Another danger to Lake Fayetteville
