Sparta hire to educate communityResidents of north Louisiana have one more paid advocate working to keep our precious water source from running out.
During a meeting at Lincoln Parish Library on Thursday, Sparta Ground Water Commission members approved the hire of Lindsay Gouedy as a Sparta educator/administrative assistant. Gouedy served as the Sparta Commission’s intern during the summer before she graduated from Louisiana Tech University.
The former Miss Teen Dixie Gem spent the summer promoting awareness about the declining water levels in the underground Sparta Aquifer, which is the primary source of drinking water for 14 parishes including Lincoln. The water levels have been in decline for decades — resulting in lowered water quality — because of overuse by residents and industries. »
Sparta group gets director
The Sparta Ground Water Commission has recently hired a new part-time director, and it is swimming full speed ahead into various projects.
Located hundreds of feet underground, the Sparta Aquifer serves as a source of potable drinking water for 14 parishes in North Louisiana.
The commission, which is made up of 19 representatives for areas covered by the Sparta, has been primarily volunteer, said Alice Stewart, Sparta commissioner for the Homer area. This setup changed earlier this month. »
La. repays Arkansas for Sparta efforts
North Louisiana is experiencing small benefits from Arkansas water conservation and accompanying monitoring efforts, and one state group is recognizing the assistance with financial reimbursement.
During the meeting of the Louisiana Groundwater Commission hosted in Ruston on Tuesday, the commission approved a request to pay Arkansas’ Union County Water Conservation Board $32,746 to help fund the cost of wells designed to monitor water recovery efforts.
The Sparta Aquifer — which runs through both Arkansas and North Louisiana and serves as a primary source of drinking water — is in danger of running out. For decades, the water has been sucked out of the ground faster than it can be replenished by rainfall, and dropping water levels have caused saltwater encroachment, which has impacted the quality of water in some areas. »
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