"Fulton area... unique ecosystem: Proposed power plant site rich in flora... in the Southwest Arkansas... in Hempstead County. ... the Arkansas Public Service Commission's process to evaluate SWEPCO [Southwestern Electric Power Co.]'s environmental impact statement...
land is heavily forested... it's the farthest north... Spanish moss. ... it's a place where cypress trees can be 10 to 12 feet in diameter. ... a very unique and fragile ecosystem ... a wetland environment with a lot of unique plant life... The Grassy Lake area, sitting a few miles northwest of the plant site, is home to all sorts of plants... that are uncommon in Arkansas. ... Grassy Lake itself has long been recognized as one of the premier wetlands... It is relatively isolated and it hasn't really been altered recently... the Grassy Lake area home... plants like the water-spider orchid [Habenaria repens]... This richness can be found in much of the surrounding area, including the acreage along the Little River, which snakes up to the Red River just before the Red slips past Fulton. ... In the Little River Bottoms, and specifically Grassy Lake, it's one of the few places that remain relatively unaltered... the area's natural quality where some old growth ecosystems can be found. ... biologists who reviewed the project said about 95 acres of wetlands will be affected. ... SWEPCO's proposed water withdrawals from the Little River... may affect water depths and have impacts to... Little River Wildlife Management Area... the APSC [Arkansas Public Service Commission] requested SWEPCO respond to 18 questions the commission has about its application for a certificate of environmental compatibility." article URL : http://www.texarkanagazette.com/articles/2007/03/11/local_news/news/news01.txt *********** Regards, VB _______________________________________________ the OrchidGuide Digest (OGD) [email protected] http://orchidguide.com/mailman/listinfo/orchids_orchidguide.com
