Arkansas to Monitor Earthquakes Near Greers Ferry

Earthquake experts intend to place more monitors near Greers Ferry Lake after a recent jump in the number of temblors in the area.

While many of the 60 quakes in the past year were too light to be felt by people, the Arkansas Geological Survey hopes to pinpoint a reason for the increase.

“It’s enough now that, given the number of earthquakes we’ve had, it warrants us taking a closer look,” geologist Scott Ausbrooks told Little Rock television station KATV

The monitors will be placed in an area between Clinton and Heber Springs.

Ausbrooks said the quakes could just be a natural occurrence, perhaps tied to recent water level changes at the lake.

The region also has a pair of injection wells serving the natural gas industry. Seismic activity fell in the Guy-Greenbrier area two years ago after a moratorium on injection well operations. Ausbrooks said it is too early to say if injection wells near Greers Ferry Lake contributed to the recent increase in earthquakes.