Deer Creek Watershed Association, is working to clean up and revitalize Deer Creek to take it back to its former place of beauty

Ronnie Yarbrough's on the trail of something exciting

MONDAY JUNE 25, 2007
Ross Reily, editor of the Delta Democrat Times.

What would you say about the possibility of a walking/bike trail that spans 163 miles through the Mid-Delta?

Well, while there's nobody ready to break ground for this project in the next 48 hours, there is one man who has a vision of bike trails, walking trails, fishing piers and boat ramps from one end of Deer Creek in Bolivar County to the other where it empties into the Little Sunflower River.

Ronnie Yarbrough, along with the Deer Creek Watershed Association, is working to clean up and revitalize Deer Creek to take it back to its former place of beauty.

Over the years, neglect has taken its toll, but Yarbrough sees more than just a litter-filled ditch. Yarbrough lives along Deer Creek near Arcola and first spent his own money to help clear and clean a portion within eyesight of his home. Since then, he and a group of dedicated folks have worked for a couple of years dealing with governmental agencies and cities and towns in the Delta to help clean, clear and beautify the Delta.

"I see this as an economic development issue," Yarbrough said, noting that Deer Creek was once a great place for fishing.

After the Mississippi Fish and Wildlife Department restocked Deer Creek, Yarbrough hopes the fishing get back to its pre-Katrina levels when people traveled from across the South just to throw a line in the historic water trail.

"If we get everything clean and pristine, I can see a bait shop, a place for canoe rental and maybe one day an outfitter to help people traverse the creek," Yarbrough said. "We have to think along these lines. I don't see any big industries beating our doors down. So, why don't we think progressively and work with our own natural resources. What do we have to lose?"

He has a point.

Why not create a place that spans the entire Mid-Delta where people can come and enjoy a beautiful natural setting?

According Yarbrough, the Mississippi Development Association is already on board. Also, if previous cleanup days are any indication, state Sen. Buck Clarke and state Rep. John Hines are on board, too. Clarke and Hines have been involved in local cleanup efforts.

More than a month ago, 87 showed up in Metcalfe to help clean and clear Deer Creek. There were 95 in Leland and 125 in Arcola.

What needs to happen next is for Greenville and Washington County to organize and help clean up the Deer Creek area that runs through the Mid-Delta Regional Airport.

How nice would it be if there were a walking trail, a fishing pier and possibly a boat ramp to go along with the Greenville Municipal Golf Course as a great green area for Greenvillians and Washington County residents?

What about money?

To this point, money hasn't been a major problem, with federal agencies willing to work with the Deer Creek Watershed Association.

The cleanup day in Metcalfe was funded with $40,000 from the Department of Environmental Quality, and Yarbrough says there may be as much as $2.3 million more out there from various organizations.

At this point, what the Watershed Association needs is more people to volunteer and more communities and cities to jump on board with a clear vision of a manicured creek with bike trails, walking trails, fishing piers and boat ramps from one end of Deer Creek in Bolivar County to the other where it empties into the Little Sunflower River.

That vision should also include smiling faces getting out and enjoying the Delta. That vision should include ways to market our beautiful natural resources, and we should envision people coming to the Delta just to enjoy how we made our dreams a reality.

Now, who could be against that?