The Booth era
In a recent Sunday column, I noted that well-known Arkansas business leader Bobby Martin might have been the best chairman in the history of the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission. Under Martin’s leadership, the commission decided to take on such audacious projects as draining Lake Conway (the largest lake ever built by a state wildlife and fisheries agency) to restore its fishing habitat. There’s also the planned restoration of greentree reservoirs for duck hunting.
Martin’s seven-year tenure on the commission came to a close at the end of June. Looking back, it’s clear that the most important thing that happened was the selection of Austin Booth as AGFC director. Booth was hired in May 2021. For the previous two decades, the commission had promoted from within, moving through a succession of directors.
Martin, who has worked at the highest levels of corporate America, realized that an outsider was needed. With huge challenges facing the agency, fresh thinking was imperative. Booth is a graduate of The Citadel, the famed military school in South Carolina. The Scott native, who grew up hunting and fishing, was in the U.S. Marine Corps from 2011-19 after receiving his law degree from the University of South Carolina.
Booth was just 34 when he was named AGFC director. His military training has come in handy the past two years. He’s not afraid to make a decision or discuss controversial topics. Booth is always the most prepared person in the room. Martin may no longer be on the commission, but he can sleep well knowing that Booth will oversee the massive initiatives the agency has taken on.
The degradation of bottomland hardwood duck habitat has been occurring for decades. Water has been allowed to stand for too long, killing the desired types of oak trees. Those trees usually are replaced by oaks that produce acorns too big for migrating ducks to consume.
AGFC and its conservation partners likely will spend at least $130 million by the time the greentree reservoir restoration initiative is completed. Some previous directors would have been too timid to take on a project this size. Not Booth.
In 2014, AGFC biologists found that 42 percent of trees at Hurricane Lake Wildlife Management Area were under serious stress, irreversibly dying or already dead. Four years later, another assessment found that red oaks, which produce the favored acorns for ducks, were declining at an even greater rate than in 2014. Red oaks at Bayou Meto Wildlife Management Area, the crown jewel of public duck hunting, were also stressed.
Booth was new to the job in 2021 when he announced that the agency was “doubling down” to ensure these habitats will survive for future generations to enjoy. It would have been easy to blame the problem on things such as increased rainfall. Booth, however, knew AGFC must change its ways. Water levels in greentree reservoirs are manipulated by water-control structures and contained by levees. The agency must reduce the depth of flooding and keep water on trees for fewer days than before.
Arkansas has 40 greentree reservoirs on 16 wildlife management areas. AGFC will now concentrate on the frequency, timing, duration and depth of flooding on those greentree reservoirs while spending millions of dollars to replace outdated water-control structures. Organizations such as Ducks Unlimited will serve as partners.
“This initiative is right in DU’s wheelhouse because it connects with our mission in so many ways,” says DU’s Tim Willis. “It’s restoring bottomland hardwood habitat, which is essential to wintering waterfowl and other wetland wildlife. It’s providing ecological goods and services. And it addresses the human dimension of conservation by providing opportunities for people to hunt ducks and enjoy outdoor activities on public lands.”
DU’s leaders are impressed with Booth. They have confidence in his ability to invest funds wisely. Booth, in turn, exudes confidence. He was part of the Marine Corps’ Congressional Fellowship Program, working on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., for a year. When the fellowship came to an end, the Corps allowed him to remain in the nation’s capital to focus on funding issues.
Booth returned to Arkansas to serve as chief of staff of the state Department of Veterans Affairs.
Booth was a high school student at Little Rock Catholic when the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks occurred. He thought about joining the Marines after high school graduation, but his parents insisted he go to college first.
Of his time at The Citadel, Booth once told an interviewer: “I was immature enough to need structure but mature enough to recognize it. … I grew up in a family where my parents always made sure we understood that America is an incredible place and countries all over aren’t like this. The miracle of the founding of the United States was constantly explained to us.”
Martin’s motto as AGFC chairman was “if you can’t be on time, be early.” That was never a problem for Booth, who gets up early with what he describes as “a Rube Goldberg system of alarm clocks.” He says he starts each day with strong coffee and prayer. I like the fact that he’s an avid newspaper reader.
“We’re at a major inflection point,” Booth says of AGFC. “We’re committed, more than ever, to expanding public access and stewarding habitat.”
Each time I’m around Booth, I become more impressed. Bold efforts such as the restoration of Lake Conway and the state’s greentree reservoirs should be a success under his watch.