STATEMENT
BY GOVERNOR ORVAL FAUBUS TO THE CORPS OF ENGINEERS
ON THE DISPOSITION OF THE BUFFALO RIVER IN ARKANSAS

 Lt. Gen. William F. Cassidy, USA
Chief of Engineers
Washington, DC 20315

December 10, 1965

RE: ENGCW-PD

Dear General Cassidy:

Sometime ago you provided to the Executive Director, Arkansas Soil and Water Commission,

Sometime ago you provided to the Executive Director, Arkansas Soil and Water Commission,
a copy of the proposed report of the Chief of Engineers, together with the reports of 
the Board of Engineers for Rivers and Harbors, and the District and Division Engineers, 
on an interim report on Buffalo River Basin, Arkansas (Gilbert Reservoir). This was 
done for my review and comment, in accordance with Section 1 of Public Law 534, 78th 
Congress, and Public Law 85-624.
I am also aware of a proposal of the Department of the Interior, National Park Service, 
to create what would become known as a National River in the very same area as the 
proposed Gilbert Dam. Your agency is also aware of this proposal, because it is 
discussed in your report, and the proposed Gilbert Dam is recommended as a compromise 
proposal. I have studied closely both proposals, and my comments are as follows.
1. The building of a dam (or dams) on the Buffalo River is not essential for flood 
control in the White River Valley area, and the creation of hydroelectric power is 
not essential.
2. As an attraction for tourists, or use as a recreational area, the dam and lake 
would be only one more attraction, of which there are already five in the White River 
system, five more in the state (one more under construction), and a half dozen or 
more now finished or under construction on the Arkansas River. The drawing power 
of the dam and lake would be limited. A properly developed National River would be 
a national and international attraction, drawing additional tourists that would 
number into the tens of thousands annually.
3. Tentative plans for a National River call for the establishment of three major 
visitor centers. The first would be at Silver Hill on Highway 65 in Searcy County 
(near the site of proposed Gilbert Dam). Here would be located the National River 
headquarters, the maintenance area headquarters, and ranger station headquarters. 
Also a major camping area, a major picnic area, a district ranger station, and boat 
access points would be established at this point, and last but not least, a museum.
The second visitor center would be at Pruitt in Newton County on Highway 7. 
Besides the camping and picnic areas, boat access, maintenance, and district ranger 
headquarters, there would be a residence area. The third center would be at Buffalo 
River State Park in Marion County on Highway 14, and would be much the same as the 
second. (A fourth center could be located at Mt. Judea in Newton County on 
Highway No. 123.)
Three other ranger stations are proposed: the first located at the mouth of 
the Buffalo River, the second at Woolum, and the third at Ponca.
The proposal calls for nine (9) primitive camps on the river, which would be 
accessible only by boat. Six (6) others would be accessible by boat and by road, 
making a total of fifteen (15) primitive camps. There would be six (6) other boat 
access, or crossings of the river, making a total of twelve (12) boat launching 
areas in addition to the major visitor centers.
A pioneer farm is proposed for Richland Valley, with barns, log cabins, 
sorghum mills, and water mills.
Nature trails will lead to such areas as Bat Cave, Lost Valley, Big Bluff, 
Hemmed-In-Hollow, Peter Point, and others. Camp Orr for Boy Scouts would be 
retained and assisted.
4. There would be twice as many permanent employees to maintain and operate the 
National River, as would be reguired for the dam and lake. In addition, large 
numbers of temporary employees would be required during the summer season for the 
National River (as is now the case in all National Parks).
5. With a dam and lake, the land is inundated.  With a National River, the land 
remains, to grow beautiful trees of many kinds, dozens of varieties of wild flowers, 
and some crops. Many of the present residents would be permitted to remain on the 
land. The same fields and woods would continue to provide a home for thousands of 
wild birds, including quail and wild turkey, and continue to produce deer, fox, 
squirrel, rabbit, raccoon, oppossum, mink, and other game. Frogs of every size
and kind join with unnumbered katydids to make the summer night musical for the 
tired camper seeking rest and relief from social and political problems, and the 
fevered market place.
6. A dam and lake would cover, forever, miles and miles of tree-lined, flower-bedecked 
river banks; hundreds of the most beautiful holes (pools) of water that have 
ever been created; numbers of rock-strewn, rippling shoals; the finest sand-bar 
camp sites to be found anywhere; and dozens of magnificent towering cliffs. All
of these are worth retaining as a part of the National River, because of a unique,
inspirational, soul-resting beauty which cannot be found in comparable expanse
anywhere else.
7. Already created dams and lakes are to be found on every side of the beautiful 
Buffalo River area within a distance of 30 to 100 miles.  The creation of another
such facility would add little to the attraction of the area as a whole.