Ozark National Scenic Riverways getting $2.6 million boost

Some $2.6 million in federal stimulus money will help the Ozark National Scenic Riverways employ more people and complete much-needed maintenance projects this year. The benefit of this boost will be felt not only by visitors to the national park, but in many ways by local residents, according to officials.

"These are projects we had already recognized the need for, but that just weren't funded," said park superintendent Reed Detring. "This is an investment in our park and will help stimulate the local economy, providing for some day labor positions, as well as contracts for our new projects."

Funding for the four projects is equal to 40 percent of the park's annual budget of about $6.5 million. The money is provided through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act and must be allocated by March.

The park will need 96 summer seasonal employees to complete both this work and routine maintenance, compared to the around 70 normally hired each year.

The riverways' permanent work force is also about 85 percent local, with about 85 percent of the annual budget used to pay all salaries.

All ARRA projects meet the criteria set forth by the federal government, including that they generate the largest number of jobs in the shortest period of time, be ready to go quickly and are visible infrastructure improvements.

"They want us to spend this money as quickly as we can," said Rusty Rawson, supervisory facility operations specialist.

The largest project brought about by ARRA funds is the replacement of underground wiring at Alley Spring and Round Spring, Detring said. Both systems are quite old and require a great deal of manpower to maintain and make repairs.

There are 29 campsites with electricity at Alley Spring campground and six at Round Spring.

Electricity is also needed for facilities such as restrooms, showers and amphitheaters.

A plan to rehabilitate the Chubb Hollow trail and its features will require five temporary employees on a one-year appointment, Detring said.

The project will include work on bridges and stone tread, as well as removal of some vegetation.

A separate list of flood and related damage has been compiled and work will be completed under a third project. The list includes numerous small repairs throughout the park, including at Big Spring, Round Spring and Sinking Creek, Detring said.

The fourth project will address paving issues at Alley Spring, work that has to be done periodically, according to Detring. Repairs will be made throughout that area, including the campground and ranger station.

Riverways staff say they are working to schedule projects around busy visitor times as much as possible.