April 20, 2010, video clip of passage of low-impact development ordinance by Fayetteville Council after public and council comments

Excellent plan completed in 2005 could have reduced flooding in the Town Branch Neighborhood, but it was rejected by growth-oriented officials of the University of Arkansas and now school officials are expanding Fayetteville High School in a way that may make the problem worse

Please click on individual images to ENLARGE view of sample pages of the plan prepared at considerable expense by cooperating organizations. Several good plans were drawn but ignored.

The main reason for the downstream flooding is apparent in the photos below illustrating how much water rushes down the campus tributary of the Town Branch of the West Fork of the White River.

The solution is to remove parking lot 56 and use the absorbent soil that, before paving and construction, allowed runoff to soak into the ground where is fell.

The total-marsh concept was the one that could have made the most difference. But restoring a large former prairie to something like its previous watershed-protecting state wasn't on the UA plan.

 The UA provided much of the expertise that went into the planning process, but the UA athletic department destroyed the existing housing and built more athletic facilities and parking spaces in the area, preserving only a portion of the land for tailgating parties and protecting some absorbent soil but maintaining it as lawn rather than encouraging native wetland plants to help cleanse runoff and decrease runoff. Adjacent street and most surface runoff from the hills to the east, west and north continues to be piped directly into the Town Branch. Beaver Lake, Northwest Arkansas' main source of drinking water, is the final recipient of that unfiltered water.
For a copy of the whole plan as a book or on a CD, contact the University of Arkansas' Community Design Center.

Earth Day to May 2, 2005, video includes local-food advice from an expert, sponsored by OMNI Center

Dick Bennett's review of American Wars follows Aubrey James Shepherd's nature photo video on You Tube

13 January 2011, video featuring Aubrey James Shepherd 2010 summer tall-grass flowers and other native flowers from World Peace Wetland Prairie and Pinnacle Foods Inc. wet prairie

3 Jan 2011, Aubrey James Shepherd video of a barred owl and poor construction stormwater management in Fayetteville, Arkansas

Uncut native grass and wildflower seeds draw a variety of sparrows and many other seed-eating species to WPWP peace circle and butterfly gardens on snowy January 20, 2011

Please click on individual images to enlarge view of scenes from WPWP on January 20, 2011.

March 30 to April 13, 2007 video of water & sewer work on South Duncan Avenue and other outdoor activities in Fayetteville, Arkansas

March 22-26, 2006, video of life at the intersection of 11th Street and South Duncan Avenue

WPWP dec21. 2007

2007 Springfest and Earth Day video by Aubrey James Shepherd

September 18, 2006, video of eroded fill dirt washing off the Aspen Ridge (now Hill Place) construction site at 11th Street and South Duncan Avenue

August 1-3, 2005, video from the Town Branch Neighborhood

Fayetteville's Environmental Action Committee working to encourage more people to improve urban wildlife habitat

Fletcher Wildlife garden similar to World Peace Wetland Prairie: a model for people who want to improve urban wildlife habitat.

Video from January 2, 2005, featuring a walk on prairie and wooded wetland acreage now dredged and filled and paved and roofed over by Hill Place Apartment complex southwest of intersection of MLK Jr Blvd. and S. Hill Avenue in south Fayetteville, Arkansas

27 August to 1 September 2006 video as rain slows on north lot that now is city parkland adjacent to World Peace Wetland Prairie

2008 or 2009 Arkansas Highway and Transportation dredges native plants out of ditch on north edge of 15th Street (Arkansas 16) in Fayetteville AR

August 24, 2007: Video of Town Branch neighbors meeting with city council members, Hank Broyles and others to walk the failed Aspen Ridge site and discuss Broyle's request to renew and extend time limit to complete the previously approved PZD

January 3-4, 2005, video of changes on land adjacent to World Peace Wetland Prairie

Title wrong on screen. This is actually from January 2005.

Pinnacle Prairie video from 2005, before wide swath was dredged out to accommodate road for developers of Aspen Ridge

August 27, 2005, video includes land being cleared and leveled for construction of Aspen Ridge Townhouses, which never happened

2006 video mostly from the neighborhood and a bit from senior center

Minutes of November 2010 meeting of RNCIC plus announcement of upcoming meeting January 8, 2011

REGIONAL NATIONAL CEMETERY IMPROVEMENT CORPORATION

PO Box 4221
Fayetteville, AR 72702



Vice-President Ron Butler called the meeting to order at 10:30.

Recited Pledge of Allegiance

Harold Crivello offered the prayer



OLD BUSINESS

1. Beverly Swaim moved, 2nd Harold Crivello the approval of the minutes. Minutes approved.

2. The Financial Statement was presented and an update on all donations given. Beverly Swaim moved 2nd Lorna Sterrett approval of the statement as presented. Motion passed.

3. Jeremy Johnson with UA student Veterans will be helping distribute brochures at Chili’s.

4. Discussed 5K run fundraiser. Beverly Swaim reported on donations for “goody bags”. Ron Butler reported recruiters are also donating items for the goody bags. Wesley Stites reviewed race day needs: registration help, 3-4 people, water point setup/support, 3 6’ tables and chairs for tables, driver for pickup of stragglers.


NEW BUSINESS

1. No new business presented.



ANNOUNCEMENTS

1. Everyone please take a few minutes to write a letter to the editor regarding the cemetery. Bring copies of your letter to the next meeting. IF WE DON’T DO THIS, WE WILL BE IN THE SAME SHAPE NEXT YEAR.

2. The VSO office is located on the County South Campus close to the jail. Everyone feel free to stop by and see the new location. They are there to help all veterans

3. Memorial Day 2011 planning meeting will be held Saturday, October 16th at 10:00 a.m. at the AL.



The meeting was adjourned at 11:35 a.m.



Respectfully submitted,





Peggy McClain, Secretary





NEXT MEETING Jan 8, 2011 10:30 a.m. at the Fayetteville American Legion Post 27