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♪♪
♪♪
♪♪
>> HEY, HEY, HEY, GOING
SNORKELING ON THIS WEEK'S
EXPLORING ARKANSAS.
YEAH, BUDDY.
FOR THOSE OF US WHO DON'T HAVE
THE LUXURY OF GOING TO THE
CARIBBEAN AND SNORKELING BY A
CORAL REEF, THE NEXT THING IS
TAKING A SNORKELING OUTING AT
DeGRAY LAKE RESORT STATE PARK.
YOU GET A MASK AND AFTER YOU
PUT THE SNORKEL IN YOUR MOUTH,
OF COURSE, IT'S YOURS TO KEEP.
MINIMUM SNORKELING AGE IS 8 AND
RESERVATIONS CAN BE MADE AT THE
MARINA WHERE A PARK INTERPRETER
WILL FIRST PREP YOU AND FILL
YOU IN AS FAR AS WHAT TO EXPECT.
>> TWO FEET OF WATER TO 180
FEET OF WATER.
WE'RE GOING OUT TO AN ISLAND,
AND WE'LL PARK ON ONE SIDE OF
THE ISLAND AND WE'LL MAKE OUR
WAY SLOWLY AROUND THE ISLAND.
ONE SIDE OF THE ISLAND IS QUITE
SHALLOW AND SANDY.
AND THE OTHER SIDE OF THE
ISLAND IS WHERE THE OLD RIVER
CHANNEL USED TO RUN AND IT'S
EXTREMELY DEEP.
AND THERE'S A ROCK WALL, A
BLUFF THAT GOES DOWN THE WHOLE
WAY.
SO, WE'LL DO THE SHALLOW WATER
SNORKLING FIRST SO THAT WE'RE
ALL FEELING COMFORTABLE, AND
THEN WE'LL MOVE ON AROUND THE
ISLAND TO THE DEEP SIDE AND
WE'LL SNORKEL ON THAT ROCK WALL
AND SEE WHAT WE CAN SEE.
>> AFTER ABOUT A 20 MINUTE OR
SO BOAT RIDE, YOU'LL FINALLY
APPROACH YOUR SNORKELING
ADVENTURE AISLE -- ISLE.
FOLLOWING A FEW LAST-MINUTE
ADJUSTMENTS AND FITTINGS, TIME
TO DIVE INTO THE FUN.
DIVE, DIVE.
>> OF COURSE, THERE AREN'T ANY
CORAL REEFS DeGRAY LAKE.
WATER IS MURKY.
IT'S INTERESTING UNDERNEATH THE
WATER, THE FORMATIONS.
[WATER SOUNDS]
>> BUT YOUR SNORKELING ISLE
ADVENTURE IS A WHOLE LOT MORE
THAN JUST THE SNORKELING.
YOUR PARK INTERPRETER GUIDE
WILL ALSO ENLIGHTEN YOU ON
DeGRAY LAKE ITSELF, AND THE
OUACHITA MOUNTAINS WHERE IT'S
SITUATED AND ANY QUESTIONS ARE
WELCOME.
>> THIS HAS A RING AROUND IT.
>> THAT'S ACTUALLY WHERE THE
LAKE GETS ITS NAME.
THESE ARE THE OUACHITA
MOUNTAINS WHICH ARE MOSTLY MADE
OF SAND STONE AND.
THE WORD IN FRENCH, I'M SURE WE
ALL HAVE OUR TRANSLATION
DICTIONARIES IN OUR POCKETS
THERE.
IT MEANS FROM OR HAD.
-- OF.
DeGRAY MEANS SAND STONE.
YOU HAVE TO KICK YOUR LEGS
UNTIL YOUR BODY IS LIKE THIS.
>> AND HOW DID THE ROCK COME
HERE?
>> WHEN THE SOUTH AMERICAN
CONTINENT HAD TO GET TO THE
NORTH AMERICAN CONTINENT WHAT
IS NOW THE GOLD COAST, OVER 65
MILLION YEARS AGO, CAUSED
TECTONIC ACTIVITY.
KIND OF LIKE WHEN YOU HAVE A
TABLE CLOTH AND YOU SQUEEZE
BOTH SIDES, YOU GET A RIPPLE
AND PULL.
THOSE ARE IN THE MOUNTAIN.
THEY ORIGINALLY RAN SO FAR EAST
THEY MET THE APPALACHIAN
MOUNTAINS.
THE PEAKS ARE HIGHER THAN THE
HIGHEST MOUNTAINS IN THE ROCKY
MOUNTAINS.
BUT THEY'RE SO OLD THAT TIME
WORE THEM DOWN.
♪♪
♪♪
>> WHAT DID YOU THINK OF THE
SNORKELING GUIDE TODAY?
>> I THOUGHT IT WAS EXCELLENT.
I TELL YOU, WE'RE SO IMPRESSED
WITH ARKANSAS'S PARK SYSTEMS,
YOU KNOW, WE'RE FROM TEXAS, AND
WE HAVE PARKS.
BUT Y'ALLS ARE JUST PRISTINE.
WE'RE SO IMPRESSED WITH THIS
PARK BECAUSE IT'S LIKE IT
LOOKED 30 YEARS AGO.
THE TREES AND THE WATER, IT'S
JUST LIKE IT LOOKED 30 YEARS
AGO.
>> THEY'VE DONE A WONDERFUL JOB
OF CONSERVATION, EXCELLENT.
AND LIKE I SAID WITH -- 30
YEARS AGO, THEN 20 YEARS AGO,
AND NOW, AND THE GOLF COURSE IS
JUST A NICE ONE.
WE PLAYED GOLF THIS MORNING.
SO, IT'S JUST A WONDERFUL PLACE
TO COME VISIT.
WE CAN'T WAIT TO COME BACK.
>> YOU SAY IT LOOKS THE SAME
AND A LOT OF IT HAS TO DO WITH
FOLKS LIKE YOU THAT -- AND
OTHERS THAT, YOU KNOW, WHETHER
THEY'RE IN STATE OR OUT OF
STATE, THEY COME HERE.
THEY APPRECIATE WHAT IS HERE
AND THEY TAKE CARE OF ITMENT
THEY MAY SURE THERE'S NO TRASH
LEFT AND NO -- CONSERVATION OF
THE WHOLE AREA.
>> AND IT REALLY SHOWS.
IT SHOWS THAT PEOPLE HAVE SOME
PRIDE IN THIS PARK.
WE HAVEN'T BEEN TO THE OTHER
PARKS, BUT THIS IS THE ONE THAT
WE COME TO.
>> AND WE UNDERSTAND THERE'S 51
OTHERS.
WE HOPE TO --
[LAUGHTER]
>> YEAH, ONE OF THESE DAYS.
>> IN THE SPORT OF KAYAKING,
THERE IS OF COURSE WHITE WATER
KAYAKING AND RECREATIONAL
KAYAKING.
AND NOW IT'S BECOMING MORE
POPULAR, KAYAK ANGLING.
IT MAKES PERFECT SENSE BECAUSE
WITH A KAYAK YOU CAN NOW GET TO
ALL THOSE HARD TO GET TO HONEY
HOLES... NO PROBLEM.
OUR KAYAK FISHING OUTING TOOK
US TO THE POPULAR KINGS RIVER
BETWEEN EUREKA SPRINGS AND
BERRIVILLE.
PROFESSIONAL KAYAK ANGLER DREW
GREGORY JOINED US WITH US ON
THIS DAY AND TALKED ABOUT THE
EVOLUTION OF KAYAK FISHING.
>> YOU KNOW, SOME WOULD SAY IT
JUST EVOLVED IN THE LAST 10
YEARS.
BUT I THINK THE INUIT AND THE
ESKIMOS AND THE TRIBAL PEOPLE
WOULD ARGUE WITH THAT A LITTLE
BIT.
BASICALLY IT'S BECOME MORE
POPULAR.
URBAN CULTURE AND AMERICAN
SOCIETY WHERE WE LIVE, PROBABLY
THE LAST 10 YEARS.
IT STARTED OUT MOSTLY IN THE
SALTWATER AND KIND OF
PROGRESSED INTO MORE FRESHWATER
NOW BECAUSE AGAIN, IT'S JUST
THE BEST TOOL TO ACCESS THE
BEAUTIFUL WATERS LIKE WE HAVE
HERE IN ARKANSAS.
>> FOR BAIT, DREW LIKES TO USE
A SIMPLE MEDIUM-SIZE RUBBER
MINOW WHICH IS DURABLE ENOUGH
TO LAST ALL DAY AND THEN SOME.
>> CHECK THIS OUT.
YOU CAN JUST STRETCH IT, ALL
DAY LONG YOU CAN FISH WITH ONE.
IT LOOKS LIKE AN INJURED MINOW.
LOOKS LIKE A HURT, DYING MINOW.
>> DREW'S EXPERTISE HAS BEEN
INSTRUMENTAL IN THE DESIGN OF
THE LATEST ANGLER FRIENDLY
KAYAKS.
>> WELL, YOU KNOW, I GREW UP
FISHING.
MY MOM AND DAD BOTH FISHED,
GRANDPARENTS FISHED, AND I JUST
CAUGHT THE BUG, YOU KNOW.
AND THEN STARTED FISHING RIVERS
A LOT.
WE DIDN'T HAVE A LOT OF MONEY
GROWING UP.
RIVERS WERE KIND OF MY THING.
I FELL IN LOVE WITH THEM.
LATER ON DOWN THE ROAD REALIZED
I HAD THE BEST TOOL IN KAYAK.
STARTED DOING T GOD HAD GIVEN
ME THE TALENT TO DO IT.
I DIDN'T WANT TO WASTE THOSE
TALENTS IN LIFE.
I TEAMED UP WITH JACK AFTER
STARTING A WEBSITE.
KIND OF MAKE A NAME FOR MYSELF
IN THE KAYAK FISHING INDUSTRY.
GOT A SIGNATURE WATERCRAFT.
AND AS YOU CAN SEE, PRETTY
STABLE BOAT.
YOU CAN STAND TO FISH OUT OF
THEM REAL NICE AND EASY.
SO, ENJOYABLE, GOOD WAY TO
EXPLORE THE OUTDOORS.
>> I'VE BEEN HEARING A LOT OF,
YOU KNOW, MORE AND MORE PEOPLE
ARE FINDING ABOUT THE DESIGN OF
IT.
THEY'RE JUST SAYING, THIS IS
WHAT WE'VE BEEN WAITING FOR FOR
YEARS.
>> WELL, YOU KNOW, WE SHOULD
HAVE THIS GUY.
HE'S PADLING BY RIGHT NOW.
HOW DO YOU LIKE THAT JACK
MANCUSA?
THUMBS UP, HE'S GIVING US THE
THUMBS UP.
IS NICE, VERY NICE.
DO WE NEED TO SAY ANYTHING
ELSE?
[LAUGHTER]
>> I DON'T KNOW, WE'RE DOING
THIS INTERVIEW.
WE HAVE SOMEBODY PADDLING BY IN
ONE.
THE DIFFERENCE IS JUST LIKE
WHEN THE FORD MODEL T CAME OUT,
THERE WAS ONE TYPE OF VEHICLE.
LOOK AT TODAY, WE'VE GOT
TRUCKS, WE'VE GOT FOUR WHEEL
DRIVE VEHICLES, WE'VE GOT
SPORTS CARS.
AS THE EVOLUTION OF KAYAK
DEVELOPS, YOU'LL HAVE SOME FOR
DIFFERENT AREAS.
SOME SPECIALIZED MORE FOR
SALTWATER, THIS ONE IS
SPECIALIZED FOR RIVERS AND
SMALLER BODIES OF WATER.
THAT'S THE WAY IT'S GOING TO GO.
IT'S GREAT.
BECAUSE THE WINNERS IN THE END
ARE YOU THE CONSUMER.
>> ALL RIGHT.
LET'S CATCH SOME.
>> LET'S DO IT.
>> AND IT DIDN'T TAKE LONG FOR
DREW TO CATCH A NOT-TOO-SHABBY
SIZED SMALL BOUND.
>> SMALL BY ANY MEANS.
PEOPLE TAKE IT.
IT'S A BEAUTIFUL FISH.
LET IT GO AS FAST AS POSSIBLE.
WE WANT TO PROTECT THESE
AWESOME RESOURCES IN ARKANSAS
HERE.
PULL IT OUT, LET IT GO BACK.
>> TO FURTHER DEMONSTRATE THE
STABILITY OF THIS LATEST DESIGN
IN FISHING KAYAKS, DREW
CONTINUED STANDING UP WHILE
GOING OVER RAPIDS.
DON'T THINK I'M QUITE THERE YET.
MAYBE AFTER A FEW MORE OUTINGS.
>>> HERE IN HEBER SPRINGS,
THERE'S THE SUGAR LOAF MOUNTAIN
ON THE LAKE, THEN THERE IS THE
OTHER SUGAR LOAF MOUNTAIN ON
THE LITTLE RED RIVER ALSO QUITE
POPULAR.
IN FACT, IT IS A BEEN QUITE
POPULAR SINCE NATIVE AMERICAN
DAYS.
HOW ABOUT WE TAKE A HIKE UP TO
THE TOP?
SUGAR LOAF MOUNTAIN NUMBER 2
ALONG THE LITTLE RED RIVER IS
ACTUALLY THE PROPERTY OF
ARKANSAS STATE UNIVERSITY IN
HEBER SPRINGS.
>> A FEW YEARS AGO, ASU STARTED
OFFERING CLASSES IN HEBER
SPRINGS, AND THEY WANTED TO
FIND A PERMANENT HOME.
WANTED TO FIND A PLACE FOR A
CAMPUS THAT WOULD BE SUITABLE
FOR A UNIVERSITY.
AND OUR PRESIDENT THEN DR.
WHITE ALONG WITH DR. MACKAY AND
DIANNE TINER, THREE OF THEM
SCOUTED OUT LOCATIONS IN HEBER
SPRINGS AND THEY SETTLED ON THE
SUGAR LOAF PROPERTY.
THEY SAW THE MOUNTAIN, THEY SAW
ITS BEAUTY AND INSTANTLY THEY
FELL IN LOVE WITH IT.
AND THINGS WORKED OUT REALLY
WELL FOR THEM TO BE ABLE TO
PURCHASE IT FOR THE UNIVERSITY.
IT WAS AN INTERESTING -- AN
INTERESTING TIME.
AND WE HAVE ABOUT 150 ACRES, I
BELIEVE, HERE INCLUDING THE
MOUNTAIN THAT WE HAVE TO WORK
WITH.
BUT THE COMMITMENT IS THERE
FROM ASU TO KEEP THIS NATURAL,
TO KEEP IT BEAUTIFUL JUST THE
WAY IT HAS BEEN FOR MANY, MANY
YEARS.
IN FACT, AS YOU CAN TELL, IT'S
IMPROVING, AND WE HAVE A LOT OF
GOOD FOLKS TO THANK FOR THAT
IMPROVEMENT HERE.
THE SUGAR LOAF AREA COUNCIL
WITH JOE RATH AND FRANK BARTON,
THAT WHOLE GROUP OF PEOPLE
COMING TOGETHER IN THE
COMMUNITY TO MAKE THIS BETTER
IS INCREDIBLE.
IT BLOWS MY MIND TO SEE PEOPLE
VOLUNTEER, TAKE IT UPON
THEMSELVES TO RAISE MONEY, AND
TO -- AND TO WORK ON THEIR
WEEKENDS AND THEIR DAYS OFF TO
MAKE THE MOUNTAIN BEAUTIFUL.
IT IMPRESSES ME, YOU KNOW, FOR
THE NATURE OF IT, BUT ALSO
GIVES OUR STUDENTS A GREAT
PLACE TO COME AND STUDY.
IT GIVES THEM A GREAT PLACE TO
COME AND LEARN.
AND IN BETWEEN CLASSES IF THEY
WANT TO HIKE THE MOUNTAIN, THEY
CAN.
OUR STUDENT THIS YEAR THAT
SPOKE AT GRADUATION IS FROM
WISCONSIN.
HE CAME DOWN WITH HIS FAMILY ON
A VACATION, DECIDED IT WAS SO
BEAUTIFUL HERE THAT HE WOULD
STAY AND GO TO COLLEGE.
AND I CAN'T HELP BUT THINK THIS
IS PART OF THE REASON FOR WHAT
IS HERE ON SUGAR LOAF MOUNTAIN.
>> THIS IS KIND OF INTERESTING
HERE, DO A LITTLE CREVACKING
HERE ON SUGAR LOAF MOUNTAIN.
>> JOE RATH AND I HAVE BROUGHT
OUR KIDS HERE.
I WAS BRINGING MY SON JACK UP
WHEN HE WAS AN INFANT, BRINGING
HIM IN A BACK PACK.
IT'S A PLACE WE COME TO A LOT
JUST ON A WEEKEND, TO GET AWAY
AND SEE THE VIEWS AND SO FORTH.
AND THESE ROCK SURFACES WERE
COVERED WITH GRAFFITI, AND IT
WAS -- SOME OF IT WAS OBSCENE
WORDS, BUT IT WAS ALL OBSCENE
TO US JUST THAT SOMEBODY WOULD
DEFACE A PLACE LIKE THIS.
IT WAS TERRIBLY ANNOYING AND
JOE AND I TALKED A LOT ABOUT IT.
BUT IT JUST SEEMED LIKE IT WAS
IMPOSSIBLE TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT
IT.
IT WAS SUCH A BIG JOB.
AND FINALLY ONE DAY, PROBABLY
IN ABOUT 2006, JACK AND I WERE
UP HERE AND THERE WAS SOME NEW
REALLY OBSCENE LANGUAGE THAT
HAD BEEN PAINTED ON THE
MOUNTAIN.
AND HE ASKED ME WHAT THAT MEANT.
AND I CALLED JOE AND SAID,
WE'VE GOT TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT
THIS, EVEN IF IT'S JUST YOU AND
ME COMING UP HERE WITH A WIRE
BRUSH, WE'VE GOT TO DO
SOMETHING ABOUT IT.
AND HE CALLED DR. TINER, WHO
WAS HEAD OF THE UNIVERSITY, THE
VICE CHANCELLOR AT THE
UNIVERSITY AT THE TIME, AND
ENGAGED SOME OTHER CIVIC
LEADERS AND PEOPLE JUST STARTED
COMING OUT OF THE WOODWORK, AND
WE FORMED THE SUGAR LOAF
HERITAGE COUNCIL FOR THE
PURPOSE OF, ONE, REMOVING THE
GRAFFITI AND RESTORING THE
MOUNTAIN TO ITS NATURAL STATE.
AND ALSO THE TRAIL THAT'S BEEN
HERE SINCE PROBABLY
PRE-HISTORIC TIMES, THE
TRADITIONAL TRAIL WAS BADLY
ERODED.
AND SO, OUR NEXT PROJECT WHICH
IS UNDERWAY NOW WAS TO MAKE THE
TRAIL PASSABLE AND DO SOMETHING
ABOUT THE EROSION AND MAKE IT
WHERE IT'S EASIER FOR PEOPLE TO
GET UP HERE, AND LESS
DESTRUCTIVE TO THE MOUNTAIN.
>> TELL US ABOUT, THROUGH ORAL
HISTORY, WHAT HAS BEEN TOLD
ABOUT INHABITANTS HERE.
>> WELL, OF COURSE, LIKE MOST
NATIVE AMERICANS, THEY DIDN'T
HAVE A WRITTEN LANGUAGE OR
HISTORY.
BUT I'VE READ, YOU KNOW, IN
SOME PIONEER JOURNALS, SO
FORTH, TALKING ABOUT
ENCOUNTERING NATIVE AMERICANS
WHEN THEY -- WHEN THE EXPLORERS
AND EARLY SETTLORS FIRST CAME
INTO THIS AREA.
IT'S OBVIOUS THAT THE RED RIVER
VALLEY, THE LITTLE RED RIVER
VALLEY WAS HEAVILY POPULATED.
YOU FIND -- YOU FIND ARTIFACTS
ALL OVER THE PLACE.
WE REGULARLY FIND EVACULITE
CHIPS UP HERE IN THIS ROCK.
AS FAR AS I KNOW, IT DOESN'T
OCCUR NATURALLY HERE.
IT WAS PROBABLY TRADE GOODS AND
BROUGHT IN FROM DOWN AROUND HOT
SPRINGS.
BUT THE PEOPLE AROUND HERE USED
IT TO MAKE TOOLS.
AND YOU FIND THIS ALL UP AND
DOWN THE RIVER VALLEY AND THE
ALLUVIAL SOIL ANY TIME IT RAINS
OR SOMEBODY PLOWS UP A GARDEN,
YOU FIND CHIPS OR ARROW HEADS,
OR ARROW HEAD PARTS, TO A PART
AND SO FORTH.
SO, IT'S OBVIOUS IT WAS MAYBE
MORE HEAVILY POPULATED THEN
THAN IT IS NOW.
>> SUGAR LOAF'S ELEVATION IS
690 FEET ABOVE THE LITTLE RED
RIVER VALLEY AND IS BASICALLY
AN EROSIONAL REMNANT.
THE EARLIEST SETTLORS CALLED IT
SUGAR LOAF BECAUSE OF ITS
RESEMBLANCE IN SHAPE TO LOAVES
OF UNREFINED SUGAR THAT WERE IN
USE AT THE TIME.
CLIMBING SUGAR LOAF HAS BEEN A
POPULAR PASS TIME FOR
GENERATIONS OF HEBER SPRINGS
RESIDENTS AND OTHERS IN
SURROUNDING AREAS.
>> FIRST TIME I CLIMBED SUGAR
LOAF I WAS KIND OF SCARED OF
THE PART WHERE YOU HAVE TO PUT
-- THERE'S ONLY ONE FOOTHOLD
AND YOU HAVE TO GET UP.
>> THROUGH THAT CREVICE?
>> YEAH, I WAS REALLY SCARED.
MY FIRST TIME UP HERE WAS WHEN
I WAS LIKE 5 MONTHS OLD.
MY DAD HAD THIS BACK PACK AND
HE PUT ME IN IT, HE'D FLY FISH
WITH ME IN IT.
HE'D JUST STICK ME IN IT.
ONCE I WAS OLD ENOUGH TO WALK
MAYBE 3 OR SO, HE WOULD JUST --
I WAS ALWAYS A LITTLE BIT
FREAKED OUT ABOUT THAT CREVICE
PART.
BUT SOME DAYS I WOULD DO IT AND
SOME DAYS I WOULDN'T.
SO, MY DAD WOULD JUST PROBABLY
-- I'D GET MY FOOT ACROSS THERE
AND HE'D PUSH ME UP SO I DON'T
HAVE TO GET MY HANDS ON THE
OTHER SIDE OF IT BECAUSE I --
MY ARMS WEREN'T LONG ENOUGH TO
DO THAT.
SO, I HAD A LITTLE BIT OF
TROUBLE WITH THAT WHEN I WAS
LITTLE.
BUT I KIND OF LIKE COMING UP
HERE WHEN I WAS LITTLE.
I WOULD ALWAYS ASK MY DAD AFTER
HE GOT BACK FROM WORK, WHEN HE
WORKED IN LITTLE ROCK, TO TAKE
A HIKE.
HE WAS ALWAYS LIKE -- DAD, CAN
WE GO CLIMB SUGAR LOAF BEFORE
WE GO HOME?
WHEN I WAS LIKE FOUR, AND I
COULD BARELY TALK, BUT HE COULD
UNDERSTAND THAT I WANTED TO
COME UP HERE.
SO, WE DID IT A LOT IN THE FREE
TIME.
>> IT'S USED PROPERTY, BUT IT'S
NOT IN THEIR CHARTER TO
MAINTAIN A MOUNTAIN.
THEY'RE AN EDUCATIONAL GROUP.
SO, THE COMMUNITIES REALLY
JUMPED IN TO HELP AND WE PUT A
LOT OF LABOR IN TO GET THE
MOUNTAIN TO WHERE IT IS NOW.
AND WE HAVE A LOT OF PLANS --
WE DEVELOPED ANOTHER TRAIL OUT
HERE, AND WE HAVE PLANS FOR
MORE TRAIL.
THIS IS JUST A SPECIAL PLACE
AND IT'S KNOWN ALL THROUGH THE
STATE.
AND EVEN WE HAD PEOPLE FROM
ILLINOIS HERE THIS MORNING.
SO, IT'S WELL KNOWN, WELL USED,
AND SOMETHING THAT THE REGION
IS REALLY PROUD OF.
AND WE NEED TO KEEP IT UP, KEEP
IT IN GOOD SHAPE.
♪♪
♪♪
>> THIS IS GRAND CYPRESS
NATURAL AREA WHICH IS A PART OF
THE WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT AREA.
AND THIS IS THE CYPRESS TUPELO
SWAMP.
IT'S REALLY AN OXVILLE LAKES,
FORMED WHEN RIVER SILT IN.
IT'S BASICALLY A BIG CURVED
LAKE AND IT'S FULL OF CYPRESS
AND TUPELO TREES WHICH ARE
UNIQUELY ADAPTED AND THEY'VE
EVOLVED TO LIVE IN THIS
ENVIRONMENT.
WETLAND AND SWAMPY ENVIRONMENTS
ARE NOT REAL HOSE PITABLE FOR
TREES AND OTHER CREATURES.
THESE TREES WHEN YOU LOOK AT
THEM ARE BUTTRESS AT THE
BOTTOM, THEY'RE WIDER AT THE
BOTTOM.
CYPRESS TREES HAVE KNEES WHICH
SUPPORTS THEM IN THE WATERY
WORLD THEY LIVE IN.
AND PART OF THAT ALSO MAY BE
FOR GAS EXCHANGE, BASICALLY TO
HELP THE TREES BREATHE THAT
LIVE OUT HERE.
>> WATCHABLE WILDLIFE
COORDINATOR KIRSTEN BARTLOW
WITH THE GAME AND FISH
COMMISSION JOINED US IN OUR
PICTURESQUE OUTING TO THE GRAND
CYPRESS NATURAL AREA NEAR
STUTTGART.
>> IN THIS MIDDLE SECTION IT
MUST BE DEEPER.
BUT IT'S VERY PRIME EVIL
FEELING.
FEELS LIKE WE'RE STEPPING BACK
IN TIME.
I'M LOOKING FOR DINOSAURS.
[LAUGHTER]
>> IT REALLY IS SOMETHING ELSE.
I MEAN, AND I DON'T KNOW HOW
MANY PEOPLE VENTURE BACK IN
HERE, BUT I GUESS BY CANOE OR
KAYAK IS THE WAY TO DO IT
OBVIOUSLY.
>> IT IS.
THIS DOESN'T ALWAYS HOLD THIS
MUCH WATER, SO SEASONALLY YOU
NEED TO CHECK IT OUT.
WHEN THERE'S ENOUGH WATER TO
GET BACK IN HERE, AND YOU MIGHT
WANT TO THINK ABOUT MOSQUITOES
AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
THIS WATERY ENVIRONMENT IS
DEFINITELY HOME TO THEM.
THESE ARE REALLY SPECIAL PLACES.
YOU CAN SEE SOME NEAT WILDLIFE
IN HERE.
A LOT OF THE BIRDS WE'RE
HEARING NOW ARE UP IN THE TREE
TOPS.
THAT'S WHERE THERE'S HABITAT
FOR THEM.
IF YOU LOOK AROUND BELOW US,
THERE'S NO UNDER STORY, BECAUSE
THE TREES ARE TAKING UP ALL THE
SUNLIGHT.
BUT ANY KIND OF REPTILE IS
GOING TO LOVE THIS AREA.
SO, IF YOU'RE INTO SNAKES AND
TURTLES AND FROGS, DEFINITELY A
NEAT PLACE TO BE.
AQUATIC MAMMALS, BEAVER AND
OTTER AND MINK YOU CAN SEE IN
THIS AREA.
>> I GUESS THAT'S WHY IT'S A
DESIGNATED NATURAL AREA.
PLACES LIKE THIS ARE -- ANY
MORE IN THIS DAY AND AGE, FAR
AND FEW BETWEEN.
>> YOU JUST DON'T SEE OLD
STANDS OF CYPRESS TREES.
THEY WERE BUILT -- USED TO
BUILD ANTE BELLAM HOMES.
THE HARDWOOD OF THE CYPRESS
TREE WAS KNOWN FOR BEING STRONG.
THEY BUILT HOUSES WITH THEM,
THEY BUILT BOXES WITH THEM.
AND A REALLY NEAT PIECE OF
TRIVIA, HENRY FORD WOULD BUY
SPANISH MOSS FROM FLORIDA.
THEY WOULD BOX IT IN CYPRESS
WOOD.
WHAT HE REALLY WANTED WAS THE
CYPRESS WOOD.
HE USED THAT ON THE SIDE PANELS
OF THE CARS AND THE DASHBOARD.
HE GOT THE BOXES FREE AND USED
THOSE IN BUILDING HIS CARS.
>>> YOU KNOW, THESE WETLANDS
ARE CENTERS FOR POLLUTANTS.
THEY HELP KEEP OUR ENVIRONMENT
HEALTHY.
AND THEY REALLY NEED TO BE
PROTECTED.
WE'RE DOWN TO HALF.
YOU KNOW, SOME PARTS OF THE
SOUTHEAST, THERE IS A REAL
ECONOMIC FACTOR TO WETLAND
AREAS LIKE THIS.
THERE CAN BE SELECTED TIMBER
HARVEST.
PEOPLE CATCH CRAW FISH DOWN
CLOSER TO THE COAST, SHRIMP.
ECO-TOURISM, WE'RE HERE.
THIS IS A GREAT PLACE TO SEE
WILDLIFE AND BIRD AND PADDLE.
SO, WETLANDS HAVE A LOT OF
IMPORTANCE TO US ECOLOGICALLY,
ECONOMICALLY.
>> TO GET TO THE GRAND CYPRESS
NATURAL AREA IN THE BAYOU METO
WILDLIFE AREA, FROM 152 TAKE
THE ROAD SOUTH PAST THE
WATERFOWL REST AREA, THEN IT
BECOMES *** CYPRESS ROAD.
THEN TURN RIGHT ONTO CYPRESS
LAKE ROAD AND GO TO THE VERY
LAST CAMPING SITE WHICH IS THE
PUT-IN AREA BEFORE THE ROAD
VEERS OFF TO THE RIGHT.
>> IT'S REALLY SPECIAL TO SEE
AN AREA LIKE THIS.
I GUESS THE EARLY EXPLORERS SAW
IT.
>> RIGHT.
I CAN'T IMAGINE, THEY DIDN'T
HAVE WOODS OFF, AND MY SPECIAL
THERMOS HERE.
I'M NOT SURE I WOULD HAVE KEPT
EXPLORING IF I WERE THEM.
I MIGHT HAVE GONE BACK TO THE
MOTHER LAND.
>> SO, GRAB YOURSELF A CANOE OR
KAYAK AND HEAD OUT INTO THE
GRAND CYPRESS NATURAL AREA HERE
AT BAYOU METO WILDLIFE
MANAGEMENT AREA AT STUTTGART.
TO ORDER THIS DESTINATION OR A
COPY, VISIT OUR WEBSITE,
AETN.ORG/EXPLORING ARKANSAS.
WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT TIME FOR
ANOTHER EXCITING ADVENTURE ON
EXPLORING ARKANSAS.
WHICH WAY DID I COME IN HERE?
>> DIVE, DIVE.
♪♪
♪♪