In the News - April 2008
Commercial fisheries, farmers keeping eyes on ponds during deluge
PINE BLUFF, Ark. - Farmers should keep a close eye on stock and fish ponds as
more rain is forecast to fall on already saturated ground, an extension
fisheries specialist with the University at Pine Bluff, said Wednesday.
As of 1 p.m. Wednesday, 45 counties were under a flood watch that was to
extend through Thursday evening.
"People should be checking on their farm pond spillways to make sure,
especially if they have any fences or screens across the emergency spillway or
trickle tube, to clean away any debris - if they can safely do so," said Dr.
Nathan Stone, who works with the Aquaculture/Fisheries Center at UAPB, a partner
with the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture.
According to the National Weather Service, in the past 14 days parts of
Arkansas have received more than 10 inches of rain. Through Thursday, flooding
is expected along the Black, lower White, Cache and Ouachita rivers.
"If water leaving a farm pond flows over the top of the dam, it can erode the
dam and cause failure," he said.
So far, the state’s commercial fish ponds have remained intact and unflooded,
Stone said, adding, "we are monitoring the situation."
The National Agricultural Statistics Service pegged cash receipts from all
aquaculture in Arkansas at more than $112.5 million in 2006.
"We are in good shape," said Margie Saul, of Saul Minnow Farm in DeValls
Bluff. "The levees are getting very sloppy, but because of the gravel base,
we’re in better shape than some farms.
"When the spring rains finally end, we may find we may have to do work on
them," she said.
"There’s lots of water out there and they’re forecasting 2-4 inches across
northern Arkansas," she said. "As for our farm, we are up high, but not dry. If
it gets us, we know there are a lot of people who have been devastated."
For more information on aquaculture, visit
www.aragriculture.org/aquaculture.htm.
The Cooperative Extension Service is part of the University of Arkansas
Division of Agriculture.
April 9, 2008
Media Contact: Mary F. Hightower
Extension Communications Specialist
U of A Division of Agriculture
Cooperative Extension Service
(501) 671-2126
mhightower@uaex.edu
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