A story of a wild river, the people who love it, and the battles they keep winning again and again.

In this Southern Currents bonus episode, Bill talks with Stewart Noland, Tommie Kelly, and Martha Morris from the Ozark Society, the group that came together in 1962 to protect the Buffalo River from being dammed. What started as a local effort led by Dr. Neil Compton grew into a campaign that made history, securing the Buffalo’s designation as America’s first National River in 1972. Along the way, there were some unforgettable moments, including the Jubilee Bus trip to Washington, D.C., and a float with Supreme Court Justice William O. Douglas that helped bring national attention to the cause.

The conversation looks at how the work has continued long after that first big win. The guests share stories of later battles against a proposed landfill, a dam on Bear Creek, and large-scale hog farms in the watershed. They explain why the Buffalo’s karst topography makes it especially vulnerable to pollution, and how a bipartisan push kept new CAFOs out of the watershed. Beyond the river, the Ozark Society has fought for wilderness designations, partnered with groups like the Arkansas Canoe Club, and spent decades building the Buffalo River Trail.

We also hear about the importance of public education and outreach, from writing letters and creating brochures to encouraging visitors to explore other Arkansas rivers to reduce pressure on the Buffalo. The group talks about bringing in younger members with free memberships and youth grants, and why direct experiences on the river matter so much. It raises some big, practical questions: What does it take to protect a place after it’s been “saved”? How do you balance high visitation with conservation? And how do you inspire the next generation to carry the work forward?

We get into:

• History and founding of the Ozark Society — how the group started in 1962 with one clear goal, to stop the Buffalo River from being dammed, led by Dr. Neil Compton and a dedicated local team.

• Buffalo National River designation — the work that led to the Buffalo becoming America’s first National River in 1972, and why that designation changed the river’s future.

• Campaign to prevent dams — organized local and statewide efforts to block two proposed U.S. Army Corps of Engineers dams that would have flooded parts of the Buffalo.

• Ongoing threats after designation — the fights that continued, from a proposed landfill and a dam on Bear Creek to large hog farms in the watershed.

• Karst topography — the porous limestone landscape that makes the Buffalo’s watershed especially sensitive to pollution and hard to protect once contamination occurs.

• CAFO moratorium — the bipartisan effort to keep new concentrated animal feeding operations out of the watershed, and the state’s decision to buy out an existing hog farm.

• The Jubilee Bus trip — the 1971 trip to Washington, D.C., where Ozark Society members testified before Congress in a final push for the river’s protection.

• Justice William O. Douglas visit — a Supreme Court Justice’s float trip on the Buffalo that brought national attention and helped build momentum for the campaign.

• Broader conservation work — protecting other rivers, wilderness areas, and public lands in Arkansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma, and building long-term partnerships to get it done.

• Public education and outreach — helping people connect with the Buffalo through events, letters, brochures, and pointing visitors to other Arkansas rivers to reduce crowding.

🎧 Listen now wherever you get your podcasts, or at thewildidea.com.

Sources and mentions from today’s episode:

Connect with the Ozark Society

• The Ozark Society website
• First River documentary
• The Battle for the Buffalo by Dr. Neil Compton

Places and Landmarks

• Buffalo National River
• Buffalo River Trail
• Ouachita National Recreation Trail (Arkansas & Oklahoma)

Organizations and Partner Groups

• Arkansas Canoe Club
• Buffalo Outdoor Center
• Friends of the Ouachita Trail

Government and Policy References

• National Park Service
• U.S. Forest Service

Concepts and Conservation Topics

• Karst topography
• Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs)

The Ozark Society started in 1962 when Dr. Neil Compton and a small but determined crew decided they were not going to let the Buffalo River get dammed. They spent a decade pushing for a better future for the river and eventually helped secure its designation as America’s first National River in 1972. That victory set the tone for the decades that followed. Since then, the Society has worked to protect wild and scenic rivers, wilderness areas, and unique natural places across Arkansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, and Louisiana. Their motto, “Conservation, Education, Recreation,” says it all. They protect what is wild, help people understand why it matters, and make sure folks can get out there to enjoy it.

Beyond their early fight for the Buffalo, they have stopped dams on rivers like the Saline and Meramec, created Arkansas’ first wilderness areas, published beautiful field guides and trail maps, and built miles of trails. Members range from paddlers to hikers to amateur naturalists, all working through local chapters that lead outings, advocate for conservation, and keep the spirit of wild places alive. Whether it is hosting a whitewater clinic, producing a butterfly guide, or rallying to protect a river from pollution, the Ozark Society is about rolling up your sleeves, getting outside, and making sure future generations can do the same.

The Wild Idea is independently produced by Wild Idea Media. If you believe conversations like this matter, you can help us keep them going by subscribing, leaving a review, sharing the episode, or signing up for our newsletter at thewildidea.com. Together, we can protect what connects us.