Possibilities flow

City, critics ease toward solutions for dam

The future of Little Sugar Creek and the dam that creates Bella Vista Lake aren’t necessarily any clearer, but recent developments appear likely to hold back contentious debate while a study evaluates different paths Bentonville might take.

“A step in the right direction” is the way Greg Van Horn put it. He’s a member of a group called the Friends of Little Sugar Creek that has advocated for removal of the 1918 dam and restoration of the creek’s free flow.

This week, the Bentonville City Council accepted a $98,960 grant from the Walton Family Foundation. The money will be used to hire Ecological Design Group and the Watershed Resource Conservation Center, for $29,250 and $63,960, respectively, to create a master plan for the 148-acre Bella Vista Lake Park, including plans for the future of the dam and creek.

The dam is, officially, in a state of failure, according to state dam safety officials. The dam has been topped by water during flooding several times. Little Sugar Creek feeds the lake, which for decades has been a favorite recreational site for some people. For some, keeping a lake is part of a nostalgic look back to good times when the area was in better condition.

From a federal government perspective, funding is focused on removing the failed dam and replacing it with new construction. Any plan that doesn’t do that would, in all likelihood, have to rely on other funding.

The city of Bentonville, which owns the property, earlier planned to proceed with replacement of the earthen dam, but vocal critics of the plan urged the city to consider getting rid of the structure altogether. Now, it appears the city will consider stream restoration and the potential of creating a “side channel” lake so that all sides can walk away having achieved at least part of the solution they sought.

All three options remain, but the study will be delivered to the City Council in about nine months to help provide information for a decision.

There have been times when it seemed the folks involved in this debate needed to go jump in the water to cool off, but they all deserve credit for embracing the possibilities of compromise. We’re not about to pretend the implementation of a study will suddenly resolve all differences, but it should give stakeholders a common collection of information from which to hold future conversations. If there is a way to preserve the recreational opportunities important to many while also restoring the creek to a natural setting, that seems like a win for everyone.

Once again, Bentonville, Bella Vista and area residents are benefiting from the generosity of the Waltons, whose money has time and time again provided the resources necessary to create options where it seemed options might be limited.

Hopefully, the study will help restore not just a better way to handle the water flowing in Little Sugar Creek but also to temper the clash between city officials and supporters of stream restoration. If done well, this project could turn an damaged and unattractive dam into a chance to renew the park’s status as an outstanding recreational amenity.