Group Concerned About Lee Creek

VAN BUREN, Ark. (AP) -- A creek that runs briefly through eastern Oklahoma is one of the country's 10 most endangered rivers. That's according to a report issued Monday by a Washington-based advocacy

Tuesday, April 17th 2007, 6:32 am

By: News On 6

VAN BUREN, Ark. (AP) -- A creek that runs briefly through eastern Oklahoma is one of the country's 10 most endangered rivers. That's according to a report issued Monday by a Washington-based advocacy group.

The report by American Rivers says a proposed, quote,"senseless dam" to provide drinking water could destroy Lee Creek, which mostly flows through Arkansas.

The River Valley Regional Water District wants to dam Lee Creek 12 miles north of Van Buren, just east of the Oklahoma state line, to provide water for thousands of customers who now get water from Lake Fort Smith.

The water district has petitioned the Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality for a rules change that would allow it to take water from the stream, which is considered an "extraordinary resource" under state policy.

Several conservation groups oppose the rules change.