Spring River (Arkansas)

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Note: For the Spring River in southwest Missouri, see Spring River (Missouri).

The Spring River is a 57 mile (92 km) long river which flows through the U.S. states of Missouri and Arkansas.[1][2]

The Spring River consists of two branches, the South Fork of the Spring River and the Spring River proper.[3]

The South Fork of the Spring River starts in Howell County, Missouri and flows south through Fulton and Sharp counties in Arkansas.[4] The South Fork of the Spring River joins the Spring River proper near the town of Hardy, Arkansas.[4] The South Fork is a quiet stream with gravelly bars that are ideal for camping.[4]

The Spring River proper begins at Mammoth Spring located at Mammoth Spring, Arkansas.[5] Mammoth Spring is the outlet of an underground river that runs from Missouri into Arkansas.[6] Over 9.78 million gallons per hour (10 m³/s) flow out of the massive spring and forms the Spring River.[7] Being spring fed, the river is extremely cold at a constant 58 °F (14 °C) and very clear.[7]

The Spring River proper is a popular destination for tourists, canoers, and for riding inner tubes ("toobers").[1] The most popular stretch of the river is between Mammoth Spring and the tourist town of Hardy.[1]

There are a variety of outfitters along the river who provide supplies, canoe rental, and shuttle services in the area between Mammoth Spring and Hardy.[7] Several resorts provide lodging for the tourist.[7]

The Spring River has a diverse population of fish including trout, walleye, largemouth and smallmouth bass, channel catfish, redear sunfish, and tiger muskies.[8] A state record tiger muskie weighing 23 lb 12 oz (10.8 kg) was caught in the river in 1995.[9] The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission maintains a trout hatchery on the river and the United States Fish and Wildlife Service operates another on the river near Mammoth Spring.[10][11]

The Spring River area has been the subject of several controversies. Property owners on the river and surrounding communities have had their properties repossessed after purchasing them from the Spring River Beach Club.[12] The owner of the Spring River Beach Club took out second mortgages on the properties and did not make the payments forcing the lending banks to foreclose on the properties.[12] During Memorial Day weekend in 2007, the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission began patrolling Spring River looking for patrons and visitors littering and conducting lewdness as many people began complaining of a Mardi Gras-like scene.[13]


[edit] Flooding

In March, 2008 a vigorous, slow moving low pressure system moved out of Texas and into Arkansas inundating the area with over a foot of rain falling in some areas of Arkansas and Missouri.[14] Heavy rainfall rates caused the river to over flow its banks and set a new record flood stage in Hardy with an observed maximum depth of 22.29 feet breaking the previous record of 16.75 feet.[15]. The mayor of Hardy ordered evacuation of 250 citizens of the town due dangerous river levels flooding over 100 buildings in and around the Spring River.[16]

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c Wildernet: Spring River, Arkansas
  2. ^ Ozark Connections: Spring River
  3. ^ Fishing Traveler Spring River, Arkansas
  4. ^ a b c South Fork of the Spring River
  5. ^ Fishing the Arkansas Ozarks: Spring River
  6. ^ Arkansas State Parks: Mammoth Spring
  7. ^ a b c d GORP: Spring River Profile
  8. ^ Arkansas.com Rainbow trout fishing and brown trout fishing on the Spring River
  9. ^ Arkansas Fishing Records
  10. ^ State fish hatchery turns out the trout
  11. ^ Fishing the Spring River
  12. ^ a b More River Property Woes
  13. ^ Trouble on the Water
  14. ^ NWS AHPS: Precipitation Analysis
  15. ^ NWS AHPS: Spring River at Hardy
  16. ^ Arkansas Matters - Flooding in Hardy

[edit] See also