A large storm tracking over northwest Arkansas over last Tuesday and Wednesday dumped from six to nearly twelve inches of rain on the Buffalo National River watershed. This rainfall caused the Buffalo River to rise rapidly, bringing it to levels exceeding all measuring equipment at the major monitoring points at the Highway 7, Highway 65, and Highway 14 bridge crossings. This flood appears to be near record in its volume, bested only by the record-setting flood of 1982. All access points along the 135-mile river were impacted by the rising waters, some measured by visual observation at 50 feet above normal flow. High water closed all park campgrounds on March 18th and the river was temporarily closed because of the extreme danger from the swift-moving water and debris. Park visitors on the river before the rain began falling were assisted in getting off the river. No complications or fatalities resulted from this serious situation. Park concessioners did not put visitors on the river during the closure. Some campgrounds are open this week along the upper river, which was less impacted by the flooding, but it will be some time before the water recedes from the lower reaches of the river near Buffalo Point and cleanup of park facilities can begin there. Camping reservations have been curtailed and will resume again in April. The extent of the damage will take some time to evaluate. Some roads have been lost – taken by the river – and numerous restrooms, parking, launch, and access facilities will need extensive cleaning and repair before they can be used by the public. The river is open, however, when and where it can be reached.
