Northwest Arkansas Land Trust adds 395 acres; land in the Beaver Lake watershed

The Fayetteville-based Northwest Arkansas Land Trust (NWALT) has added 395 acres to its portfolio with “ecologically significant land” that is part of the Beaver Lake Watershed in Madison County. The conservation easements were courtesy of the Courteau family.

“We think the land should be preserved and kept for posterity—and that’s what we’re doing,” Dick Courteau noted in a press release from the Trust. “My favorite parts of the land are the bluffs, the varied altitudes, and the beautiful trees of so very many species. Also, the fauna, the many squirrels and rabbits, foxes and raccoons, the springs, and the wells. … I decided to protect the land with the NWA Land Trust to leave it unspoiled, for my children and their children. This is a spectacular tract of nature, and I want to hand it down unspoiled.”

Acquired by the family in 1967, the area became known as Rimrock for the bluffs that rise from the landscape. The Courteau family used property in the area to operate the Rimrock Ranch School of Junior Horsemanship, a summer camp that taught horsemanship to young people.

“This project exemplifies our mission to protect the land we love, and we are grateful for the Courteau family’s commitment to conservation. The protection of Rimrock is a significant step toward ensuring the natural beauty and ecological integrity of the Beaver Lake Watershed are maintained for years to come. We’re honored to work with the Courteau family to ensure that Rimrock remains a sanctuary for wildlife and a legacy for future generations,” noted Grady Spann, NWALT executive director.

According to the Trust, the conservation easements protect the biodiversity of Rimrock and helps protect the Beaver Lake watershed, the primary drinking water source for Northwest Arkansas. The Trust worked with the Beaver Water District in creating the easements to benefit the area.

“Beaver Water District is proud to support the conservation of Rimrock Ranch and many other properties just like it that NWALT has worked so tirelessly to preserve. The connection between conserved land and water quality are clear and we are trying to help prioritize and conserve the best of what is left in the watershed to ensure a clean and reliable source of drinking water for current and future generations of Northwest Arkansans,” noted a statement from the district.

The NWALT is a non-profit organization dedicated to the preservation and protection of natural landscapes in Northwest Arkansas. Through partnerships with landowners, community members, and organizations, NWALT works to conserve land that provides clean water, wildlife habitat, scenic beauty, and opportunities for outdoor recreation. To date, NWALT has protected more than 8,363 acres of land in the region.

In December 2023, the NWALT announced a conservation easement with with landowner Bob Breeze in the southern part of Washington County. The 130-acre property, situated east of Interstate 49 and adjacent to the Ozark-St. Francis National Forest, is within NWALT’s Boston Mountain Wildlife Corridor priority area, a critical area for the movement of wildlife under I-49.