Buffalo National River Environmental Factors

The management strategies used at Buffalo National River to maintain the natural resources must be as dynamic and diverse as the resources. Management strategies must be constantly evolving as the scientific process discovers new and better ways to preserve our nation's natural resources.

Buffalo National River was created by Congress in 1972 for "the purposes of conserving and interpreting an area containing unique scenic and scientific features, and preserving as a free-flowing stream an important segment of the Buffalo River", and it is this general mandate that drives our preservation efforts. The scientific features spoken of in the enabling legislation are becoming more important as development continues to occur in neighboring watersheds leaving the Buffalo River as the area's most natural stream system. However, non-point source pollution is also threatening the Buffalo River as more deforestation and landuse modifications occur in its watershed.

Although the river was set aside to be preserved for the use of future generations and the National Park Service is responsible for that task, only community-wide support for conservation efforts in the watershed can help reach that goal. The future outlook for the quality of the river is high as the National Park Service and state and local governments strive to create common ground and forge a common goal for the preservation of one of the nation's most unique aquatic