Report on the Water and Related Land Resources in the Poteau River Basin in Oklahoma and Arkansas

Excerpts from the report: The Poteau River Basin is located in eastern Oklahoma and western Arkansas and has a total area of 1,208,320 acres or 1,888 square miles. The Oklahoma portion includes most of LeFlore County, a part of Latimer County, and a minor portion of Haskell County. The areas in Arkansas are located in parts of Sebastian and Scott counties and a minor part of Polk County. The Basin population in 1965 was estimated at about 44,000 people. Seventy-eight percent is privately owned, and 22 percent is publicly owned. Eleven percent is cropland, 16 percent is pasture and range, 68 percent is forest, and 5 percent is devoted to miscellaneous uses. The Basin lies near the western edge of the commercial timber belt for eastern United States. Its topography ranges from gently rolling in the lower reaches to mountainous in the upper reaches. The purpose of the Department of Agriculture participating in the study was to: (1) consider both the present and the projected needs for erosion control, flood prevention, water management, fish and wildlife, and recreation; (2) evaluate the capabilities and potentials of meeting the water and related land resource needs; (3) examine the broad economic aspect of the possible water resource developments; and (4) contribute to a comprehensive plan for coordinated and orderly development, management, and use of water and related land resources of the Basin.