65 Year of Beaver Water District – August 27, 1959
Many of us today take water for granted, but the leaders who formed the District and envisioned the future knew the value of water. They understood that water is precious. Clean drinking water ensures the continued health of the population of a region. Abundant, accessible water also ensures the economic vitality of a community. The story of how these leaders pulled together to make abundant and economical drinking water supplies a reality in Northwest Arkansas is one worth remembering and celebrating.
Front row, left to right: Willis Shaw, Claud Morsani, Joe Robinson, Earl Harris, Courney Crouch, Mace Howell, Paul Young and back row, left to right: Elbert Graham, State Senator Russel Elrod, J.J. Neil, Albert Price, ??, ??, Shelby Ford, Carl Shores, ??.
Construction is authorized under the Flood Control Act for the purposes of flood control and generation of hydroelectric power. However, in the case of Beaver Dam and the creation of Beaver Lake, the cost-benefit analysis was unfavorable for the dam construction just for the purposes of flood control and hydroelectric power.
The Water Supply Act recognized state and local responsibility in developing water supplies and allowed the Corps of Engineers to begin working on Beaver Reservoir. The added benefits of a drinking water supply would create a cost-benefit ratio favorable for dam construction.
First BWD Board of Directors
WR Vaughn, H Douglas, H Croxton, J McRoy, JM Steele, C Little
The first board members had a significant impact on NWA. They were responsible for creating an organization that would not just exist on paper, it would become a fully operational drinking water facility to provide the water needs of the local region.
The District entered into a contract with the U.S. Corps of Engineers which provided for sufficient storage space of 35 MGD of water and an additional 85 MGD for future use.
Springdale needed more water and improvements to its water system in 1963. Construction to meet these needs would begin that year, with the installation of a raw water line, water pumps, and a 10 MGD water treatment plant completed alongside the dam in 1966. Springdale would operate the regional facility until the district could hired staff and take over the day-to-day functioning of the facility.
With construction on plant expansions underway, Beaver Water District began controlling operations of the Joe M. Steele Water Treatment Facility.
A new intake facility constructed on Beaver Lake increased the District’s intake capacity by 70 MGD.
After upgrades to the Steele Plant were completed, it was placed back online in early 2009. The new Administration Center would be completed and opened in the summer of this same year.
The Beaver Watershed Alliance formed to establish programming to maintain high quality drinking water in Beaver Lake and improve water quality within the Beaver Lake Watershed.
To find out more information on the history of Beaver Water District, please read Development of Municipal Water Supplies for Benton and Washington Counties, Arkansas.