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The Arkansas Game & Fish Commission unanimously voted Friday to request that the American Land Conservancy grant a conservation easement for Buck Island located on the Mississippi River near Helena. State Rep. Clark Hall, D-Marvell, made the announcement Monday.
Effort to obtain the easement has been in the works since 2009. The easement authorizes the Game & Fish Commission to spend $350,000 on the project. The easement will ensure the preservation of Buck Island as a vital wildlife habitat and guarantee the hunting, fishing and trapping rights enjoyed on the 1,500 acres of land.
“This is wonderful news for Phillips County,” commented Hall. “I am grateful to the Game & Fish Commission for making this a priority, and I appreciate all of the hard work that has gone into this effort.”
The Commission will now work with the ALC to finalize the project.
In a letter to Hall, AG&C Director Loren Hitchcock stated that the commission will work with the ALC on closing, obtaining title insurance and notifying the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service in Atlanta, regarding the expenditure of gas minerals proceeds for the acquisition. The closing costs could add to as much as $10,000.
“As I known you understand, these are required formalities and ‘red tape’ to cross the goal lines,” commented Hitchcock.
The Arkansas Game & Fish Commission unanimously voted Friday to request that the American Land Conservancy grant a conservation easement for Buck Island located on the Mississippi River near Helena. State Rep. Clark Hall, D-Marvell, made the announcement Monday.
Effort to obtain the easement has been in the works since 2009. The easement authorizes the Game & Fish Commission to spend $350,000 on the project. The easement will ensure the preservation of Buck Island as a vital wildlife habitat and guarantee the hunting, fishing and trapping rights enjoyed on the 1,500 acres of land.
“This is wonderful news for Phillips County,” commented Hall. “I am grateful to the Game & Fish Commission for making this a priority, and I appreciate all of the hard work that has gone into this effort.”
The Commission will now work with the ALC to finalize the project.
In a letter to Hall, AG&C Director Loren Hitchcock stated that the commission will work with the ALC on closing, obtaining title insurance and notifying the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service in Atlanta, regarding the expenditure of gas minerals proceeds for the acquisition. The closing costs could add to as much as $10,000.
“As I known you understand, these are required formalities and ‘red tape’ to cross the goal lines,” commented Hitchcock.
