Introduction
Like the River, the Ouachita Riverkeeper encompasses two states. Arkansas
and Louisiana. Beginning in the ouachita Mountains of Arkansas, the
Ouachita River flows to join the Tensas and Little Rivers of Louisiana to form
the Black River, which then flows into the Red River. By working in both
states, we can utilize arn extensive network of advocates and monitor the
Ouachita River for its full length of 650 rniles. The people who live, hunt, fish,
and use the river for recreation are very passionate about cleaning up the
river and protecting it from furlher abuse.Ihe Louisiana Environmenal Action
Network alnd the "Save the Ouachita" organization of Arkansas collaborated
recently and so far have been successfril in stopping a proposed pipeline in El
Dorado, Arkansas.
Due to our extensive grassroots outreach, the Arkansas
Department of Environnnental euality received over 3,000 comments, a
record thaLt overurhelmecl the agency. The pipeline would have dumped over
20 million gallons per day of treated sewage and chemicals into the river. lt
was from the success of this venture that the idea of forming the Ouachita
Riverkeeper was born. Being a Riverkeeper gives us the tool by which we can
combine alnd coordinate our efforts and become rnore effective in advocating
for our river.
Due to our extensive grassroots outreach, the Arkansas
Department of Environnnental euality received over 3,000 comments, a
record thaLt overurhelmecl the agency. The pipeline would have dumped over
20 million gallons per day of treated sewage and chemicals into the river. lt
was from the success of this venture that the idea of forming the Ouachita
Riverkeeper was born. Being a Riverkeeper gives us the tool by which we can
combine alnd coordinate our efforts and become rnore effective in advocating
for our river. 
