Holy moley. A Republican state official has entered an agreement with a federal agency intended to protect some endangered obscure animal life on islands in the Arkansas River. Where’s Missy Irvin and the Greenway posse when you need them to fight the tree hugging environmentalists?

But, more seriously: Land Commisisoner John Thurston announced an agreement with the Corps of Engineers to protect habitat of the endangered Interior Least Tern and the American Burying Beetle.

Advertisement

The land commissioner has a role because it issues permits to remove sand and gravel from state land. This agreement will have the state coordinate with the Corps so as to do the least disturbance to habitat. Various agencies participate, whether by vegetation control or overseeing boat ramps and islands and sand bars. Col. Courtney W. Paul said he appreciated Thurston’s cooperation.