WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) Little Rock District recently announced they are instituting a new moratorium to determine a baseline number of permits and docks for a shoreline management plan they are doing on Table Rock Lake.

            This moratorium comes just one year after the Corps’ previous year long moratorium imposed on property owners and is expected to last at least two more years. As Yogi Berra would say, “It’s like deja vu all over again.”  Yesterday evening U.S. Rep. Billy Long talked with Col. Courtney W. Paul of the Corps to discuss this issue.

            “While I appreciate Col. Paul listening to the concerns of myself and many of my constituents who have reached out to me, I am not convinced this course of action is necessary or prudent at this time.  There is no need for the Corps to take this drastic action that will negatively impact property owners and the local economy around Table Rock Lake on the heels of a recession and a recent one year moratorium.  However, Col. Paul gave me his word that no existing Redline Zoning, dock permissible areas, would be taken away from land owners, and the Corps will not revisit a possible vegetation buffer zone that was floated during the last moratorium.  Both of these decisions should come as a relief to landowners.  Following the call I look forward to the Corps working in good faith to educate the public on what this plan will entail.  The Corps needs to avail itself of all avenues available to effectively communicate with property owners what to expect going forward with the moratorium,” Long said.

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