Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area Celebrates 25 Years

Gates hang over the Arkansas River at the Arkansas River Headwaters Area, indicating a boating path. Winter 2012
Credit Andrea Chalfin / KRCC
Gates hang over the Arkansas River at the Arkansas River Headwaters Area, indicating a boating path. Winter 2012

The Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area, or AHRA, is celebrating its 25th Anniversary today. The region spans 152 miles of the Arkansas River and saw over 711,000 visitors last year.

AHRA program assistant Rose Bayless says in its 25 years, the area has provided an outlet for outdoor recreation that the public didn’t have before, including boating and fishing.

"The Arkansas River was just recently designated as Gold Medal Waters and when you consider that in 1990 it was toxic, that’s really a wonderful achievement on the part of a lot of different agencies."

Bayless says future plans for the AHRA include working to minimize user conflict and more promotion of the area.

The celebration will take place from 10:30 to 1:30 at the Salida Steam Plant Ballroom.