Arkansas: Caw

Just got out of a public information session at Central Arkansas Water about its $12.4 million deal to buy Jay DeHaven's Canterbury Park dream, the Winrock Grass Farms property. Several people there questioned CAW CEO Graham Rich how land bought for $4.5 million in 2007 is now worth $12.4 million.

Background: DeHaven bought the property at auction at the Pulaski County Courthouse for $4.5 million in 2007. It was appraised last year by the Trust for Public Lands for $5.4 million for 804 acres. Now, a second appraiser for the Trust says the land -- untouched since 2007 -- is worth $12.4 million for 915 acres.

Lake Maumelle advocates sign in at a rally held last week

Advocates for Lake Maumelle scored a small victory this afternoon when Central Arkansas Water commissioners voted to accept the agreement between CAW and Pulaski County on tougher subdivision rules that will protect the watershed.  Check out the Arkansas Reporter from this week's Times for some background info.  Environmental groups and other concerned citizens didn't think the subdivision agreement went far enough to protect Lake Maumelle.  The agreement, among other things, prohibits the discharge of wastewater in the watershed, something advocates like the Sierra Club's Kate Althoff said was necessary.  The agreement does not, however, put limits on development as laid out in the Lake Maumelle Waterhsed Management Plan, which was comissioned and approved by CAW.