News Release

Projects and planning efforts ongoing at Ozark Riverways

Date: June 14, 2019
Contact: Dena Matteson, 573-323-4814

VAN BUREN, MO - There are a number of projects and planning efforts currently underway at Ozark National Scenic Riverways (ONSR). 
The park continues to recover from the devastating 2017 flood that damaged and destroyed many park features and facilities along the 134 miles of the Current and Jacks Fork rivers in the park. While much progress has been made to repair and reopen areas that were damaged, there is more work to be done, which requires planning and funding for each project. Accomplishing repairs or improvements to park facilities requires a high level of planning in order to comply with the appropriate laws and policies and compete for funding. In order to secure funding, an approved plan must identify the work needed and how it will be done. That includes compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) and providing public review and comment opportunities before any action is taken. 

Some flood recovery projects require working closely with the Federal Highway Administration and its Emergency Relief of Federally Owned (ERFO) program, through which funding has been secured to repair several key areas of the park. When utilizing funds through the ERFO program, a project must be underway by the end of the second fiscal year after the “event” occurred. In the case of the 2017 flood, the contracting process for repair work must be underway by September 30, 2019. After that, the project completion date will depend on the scope of the project and time needed for a contractor to finish work.  

“With all the barriers we must negotiate as we compete for limited funds, we’re sometimes surprised by the difficulties we encounter. Money in the National Park Service (NPS) is never easy to come by – that is no surprise. But we persevere because that is what our visitors expect and deserve,” said Superintendent Larry Johnson.  “We also do this because the amazing natural and cultural resources at ONSR deserve nothing less than our best efforts to ensure your grandchildren can see and experience this place much as you do today. Despite the challenges associated with project planning and funding, there is a lot of progress to report.” 

An update on current work progress and operations is listed below.   

Lower Current River area:

• Big Spring Lodge and Cabins:  Planning and design are underway for the installation of new electric, water and sewer lines, renovation of the Lodge and Cabins, and restoration of the surrounding landscape. A Cultural Landscape Report has been completed and the Historic Structures Report for the cabins is over 95% complete. These important plans ensure that renovation is consistent with the historic setting, keeping these unique facilities appealing and special to so many people. Work has begun on a Concession Prospectus with the intent that potential concessioners bid on operating and maintaining the facilities. A Market Analysis has been completed to chart the course for providing the services at the Big Spring Lodge and Cabins the public expects while ensuring profitability for the concessioner. At this time, it is expected the installation of the utilities and renovation of the Lodge and Cabins will begin in 2021.  

• Big Spring Campground and surrounding area:  A new flood resistant pre-cast concrete restroom was installed in the 200 loop of the campground earlier this year. Flood damage along Peavine Road and on the River’s Edge hiking trail will be repaired through the ERFO program.  

• Replacement of the Big Spring bridge began in August 2018 and is expected to be complete by mid-October 2019. While the bridge is closed during construction, visitors will still be able to reach Big Spring, the boat ramp, and campground via Peavine Road.  

• Big Spring and Peavine pavilions:  Both pavilions were destroyed in the 2017 flood. The concrete slabs remain intact at both pavilions, and picnic tables have been placed on them for gatherings and picnics. The pavilion sites have water and grills, and are available for reservations for $15 per day at www.recreation.gov. Pop-up tents are allowed as long as they remain on the concrete slab. Planning and design for the replacement of both pavilions will begin soon, with construction of one of the pavilions expected to take place in 2020 and the second in 2021.

• Waymeyer Access, Pin Oak Campground and Chilton Boat Launch:  The Pin Oak Campground was destroyed and remains closed. The very popular Waymeyer Access has continued to erode, reducing the space available to safely unload commercial and non-commercial vessels at that location. A temporary river access point for non-motorized vessels has been established at the former Pin Oak Campground site which will serve as the primary access point for NPS-permitted commercial operators on the lower Current River this summer. Non-commercial vessels can continue to use the Waymeyer location as before, or can use Pin Oak on weekdays (except for holidays). On weekends and holidays, use of the Pin Oak access will be limited to NPS-permitted commercial operators. The Chilton Creek boat ramp was unharmed in the flood and is still available for motorized vessels. An Environmental Assessment will consider long-term sustainable options for camping and motorized and non-motorized river use at Waymeyer, Chilton Creek boat ramp and Pin Oak. The Environmental Assessment will be released for public review and comment later this year.  

Middle Current River:

• Powder Mill Campground, Road  and River Access:  All were destroyed in the 2017 flood and remain closed to public use, but will be rebuilt utilizing the ERFO fund source. The waterborne restroom building was replaced with a flood resistant pre-cast concrete vault toilet earlier this year because of the loss of the electric powerline and the destruction of the water system at Powder Mill. River users can still park in the Powder Mill area to hike the Ozark Trail or walk to the gravel bar for day use. Visitors with floating or boating equipment are encouraged to use the Owls Bend access point on the opposite side of the river, where vehicles can reach the water’s edge for loading and unloading.  

• Shawnee Creek Campground:  The restroom was destroyed in the flood and has been replaced with a new flood resistant pre-cast concrete vault toilet.  

• Rocky Falls:  While this area was not impacted by the flood, the restroom was beyond its normal life span. It has been removed and replaced with a new flood resistant pre-cast concrete vault toilet.

Upper Current River:

• Baptist Landing:  The flood damaged parking area and erosion near the boat ramp will be repaired through the ERFO program.  

• Lower Welch Spring Trail:  Repair of the washed out trail and gabions with re-seeding will be done through the ERFO program. 

• Pulltite Campground Road: Emergency repairs of the road washouts were completed but more work is needed to complete the repairs. This work will be done through the ERFO program.

Jacks Fork River:

• Buck Hollow:  The restroom was damaged in the flood and has been removed and replaced with a new flood resistant pre-cast concrete vault toilet.

• Alley Spring Area:  The small foot bridge on the Alley Spring Trail was destroyed and will be replaced with ERFO funding.

• The Alley Spring Branch Bridge, known as the North River Road Bridge, was replaced earlier this year and reopened for traffic. 

• The Pedestrian Bridge over the Jacks Fork River was badly damaged and has now been demolished. The utilities that were attached to the bridge were moved under the river, protecting them from future flood damage. The pedestrian bridge will be replaced by a similar bridge in the near future with ERFO funding.  

• The Alley Mill Historic Structures Report is 95% complete. This report establishes maintenance requirements consistent with the preservation of the structures, fitting their period of significance. Completion of this report will allow for additional projects to be pursued in the historic district around Alley Mill, such as an accessibility project for the mill and potential relocation of the Storys Creek School out of the flood zone.  

• Alley Spring Campground:  A new flood resistant pre-cast concrete water-borne restroom was recently installed in the Alley Spring Campground cluster sites (400 loop) to replace a restroom destroyed in the 2017 flood. 

• Burr Oak river access:  Because the gravel bar near the Alley Spring campground continues to shift with each flood, the Burr Oak access will continue to serve as a launch area for floaters. 

Planning Updates

The Roads and Trails Management Plan is still in progress, though it has been slowed at times due to other priorities, which include ongoing flood recovery and some of the major projects previously listed. The preferred alternative is being developed and should be available for public review and comment this fall. The plan is about 70% complete. The plan should be completed in early 2020.

An Environmental Assessment for the Waymeyer Access, Pin Oak Campground and Chilton Boat Launch will soon be ready for public review and comment, to present more long-term sustainable options for relocating the Waymeyer Access and the Pin Oak Campground to nearby areas.

A park accessibility assessment was recently conducted, and an Accessibility Transition Plan is under development for the park. Accessibility planning is critical to ensuring that ONSR provides comparable experiences to visitors of all abilities. The accessibility assessment identified the current level of accessibility offered through park services, activities and programs, as well as barriers to accessibility. The Accessibility Plan will recommend and prioritize physical, structural, and programmatic solutions necessary to overcome and remove those barriers. The draft Accessibility Transition Plan will be released to the public for review and comment later this year.

For more information about the Riverways, call [phone]; visit the park’s Facebook page, or website at www.nps.gov/ozar.

Ozark National Scenic Riverways preserves the free-flowing Current and Jacks Fork Rivers, the surrounding resources, and the unique cultural heritage of the Ozark people.

 

www.nps.gov/ozar

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