Description
Why the Conservancy Selected This Site
The Nature Conservancy in Arkansas purchased its Kings River Preserve in Carroll County in March 2010. The Conservancy's primary purpose in acquiring the preserve, which spans some 10.5 miles on both sides of the Kings River, was to help maintain the health of and water quality in the Kings River. The Kings River is important because:
- It flows into Table Rock Lake and the White River, meaning it serves as a source of drinking water for dozens of communities in Missouri and Arkansas;
- It is a recreational treasure—thousands of people come to the Kings River to canoe, fish and swim every year;
- Its watershed is home to 18 fish, crayfish, mussels, turtles and aquatic insects found only in the Ozarks, including a stonefly that lives in the Kings River watershed and nowhere else on Earth;
- The forested areas around the river provide foraging habitat for endangered gray bats and a wide array of other terrestrial animals.
The Kings River is an incredibly scenic place. It's lined with tall bluffs, gravel beds and forested banks. Its waters flow clear and clean. And the Kings River is known as one of the best destinations for prized game fish, notably the smallmouth bass. Belted kingfishers, egrets and herons are common sights, as are bald eagles during winter months.
