Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

City received Big Timber Lake land

The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission (AG&FC) gave 100 acres of land, which had been Big Timber Lake (known as Gurdon Pond Number Two) and its surrounding timberland, to the city of Gurdon on Monday, Jan. 31.

David Goad, deputy director for the AG&FC, said, "We are happy to fulfill the request of the city. It is good to see everyone taking part in the restoration of our natural resources."

Gurdon requested property rights to the lake site for use as a recreational area and an emergency water supply. Goad said the hope is to renovate the lake through federal grant money.

The lake was one of two ponds in Gurdon given to the AG&FC by International Paper years ago. The first lake, next to Gurdon Park on Highway 67, was enhanced by the AG&FC with easy access, habitat improvements for fishing and a park-like setting. The second, Big Timber Lake, was drained and has not been in use.

Tommy Potter, local businessman, said Big Timber Lake was drained in 1990. He said restoring it should not only provide an added water supply for this city, to use for drinking or firefighting, but also add to recreational activities.

Potter said a 1,500 acre plot next to the lake land is under use through a deer hunting lease, and a water supply should help the deer herd to increase and that venture to prosper in the future.

Mayor Clayton Franklin said the city is appreciative of the land "and grant funding will be explored."

"Our plans for the lake and the land are real flexible at this time," he said. "We will be looking around for financing."

Goad said Gurdon needs this land worse than the Game and Fish. He suggested looking to sales tax money, where some has been allocated to conservation projects.

"I'd explore the 1 percent county sales tax stipulations in Clark County and Amendment 35," Goad said. "You can seek funding from Parks and Tourism on the grounds that it would fit education and conservation criteria to restore Big Timber Lake."

Potter said the timber and land values on the property can now be used as in-kind grant matching, as financing for the project is explored.