Boxley Valley: Land Use Plan/Cultural Landscape Report, Buffalo National River, Arkansas [DRAFT]

Staff

The purpose of this Land Use Plan/Cultural Landscape Report is to provide a management strategy for Boxley Valley as a supplement to the Master Plan for Buffalo National River. The new plan provides more detailed guidance on resource management, land use, visitor use, development, and land management agreements for the valley. It responds to current management problems, such as vacant farmhouses, and to new legal authorities, such as the historic properties leasing program. Boxley is a well preserved example of a rural Ozark Mountains valley as it has evolved over the past 150 years. It provides the most significant cultural landscape found along the Buffalo River. The valley is a collection of tangible cultural features that exemplify the traditional Ozark Mountains valley settlement pattern. The landscape includes a collection of agricultural fields and significant vernacular architectural features. Historically the valley has been a series of small family-operated farms, whose occupants have continually had to adapt to an ever-changing agricultural economy while constantly contending with the forces of nature, especially flooding from the river. Buffalo National River was established by an act of Congress in 1972 for the purposes of conserving and interpreting an area containing unique scenery and scientific features, and to preserve the Buffalo River as a free-flowing stream for the benefit and enjoyment of present and future generations. The legislative history of the act establishing the park clearly identifies Boxley Valley as an area to remain in private use, thereby retaining the rural agricultural setting. The purchase of scenic easements, leaseback, or sellback with deed restrictions was presented to Congress as the management intent for Boxley so that landowners could remain on their land and continue farming. The House Report on the bill to establish Buffalo National River identified a development zone, a conservation zone, and a private use zone, including “some farmlands which should continue in private ownership subject to scenic controls and necessary rights-of-way for roads and trails.” Boxley Valley was to be part of the private use zone. Following this congressional direction, the 1975 Master Plan for the park classified Boxley Valley as a private use zone to perpetuate the pastoral scene. The master plan does not proved details on management of the valley, and for various reasons, the NPS has acquired fee-simple ownership of most of the valley. Many sellers retained use and occupancy agreements for up to 25 years.

Boxley Valley: Land Use Plan/Cultural Landscape Report, Buffalo National River, Arkansas [DRAFT]

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