The Arkansas Game & Fish Commission has put together a beautiful website which clearly states the regulations needed to keep the river clean. Those rules can be found by following this link. I’ll highlight the regulations here:

Glass Containers are Prohibited – With the exception of containers used for substances that are prescribed by a licensed physician. That means NO glass soft drink or beer bottles in your canoe. This shouldn’t be a problem because you can always purchase your beverages in plastic or in cans.

Fasten Cooler Lids – In the event you should turn your canoe over, you’re likely to lose at least some of the contents you had packed in your cooler if it’s not secured properly. Wrap a “bungee” around your cooler and strap the cooler in your boat and you should be fine. While not specified in the regulations, I would recommend strapping “everything” in your boat and not just your cooler. Rod & reels don’t float very well

Attach and Use a Mesh Litter Bag – If you’ve never been to the Buffalo, you may not realize how beautiful it is. Sure, you’ll see some trash occasionally, but considering the many thousands of people that come to the river each year, it’s unusually pristine. The only way it will stay that way is if everyone does their part to keep this river clean! Carry along at least one, if not two, mesh litter bags. The canoe rental shops along the river will normally provide these for you if you’re renting their canoes, or you can usually buy them locally if you bring your own canoe or kayak. Most importantly…USE THE BAGS! When you finish a drink or have trash from a snack or meal, put it in the bag, cinch it shut and make sure it’s securely tied into the canoe. And if you smoke…., please put your cigarette butts in the bag as well. You don’t know how bad we hate to see cigarette butts floating down the river!

Use a Floating Holder for Beverages – Essentially this means that if you have a drink in the boat, (not in the cooler or trash bag), it needs to be in some kind of a container that floats so that if you should turn over or drop the beverage out of the boat, it will not sink. I think there are a lot of people that aren’t aware of this law, and I have to admit that I wasn’t aware of it until I started researching. We typically make a camping/floating trip with 50 or more people each year and I’ve never heard anyone mention this? So…regardless of whether it’s a new law or one that simply hasn’t received much attention, it’s still a LAW.

Again…use common sense and treat the river with respect by keeping it clean and everything should be fine.

• Start Slowly – If you’re not an experienced canoeist, try to put in where you’re in a slow or relatively calm pool of water.
• Get to know your canoe – Once your loaded and ready to go, gently paddle out into the water and get a feel for how the canoe will react by paddling on each side.
• Always carry your Personal Flotation Device, (PFD) – It’s an Arkansas law that you must carry at least one PFD for each person in the boat. If you’re not a good swimmer, I would recommend wearing your PFD while floating! Don’t worry if you think you won’t look cool by wearing it…you’ll look better than you would if you were dead!
• Strap in your gear – If you’re new to canoes, you’ll soon find that these fine watercrafts aren’t quite as stable as what you may be used to. It’s recommended that you strap “everything” in the boat. Ice chests, dry bags, fishing poles etc. Theres nothing like losing your food & dry stuff within the first few minutes of the float, and have to borrow or go without for the rest of the day. (I’ve seen people turn over as they were shoving off from the bank!)

My intent isn’t to scare you, but to prepare you. Obey laws and use common sense and you will have one of the most enjoyable experiences you’ve ever had! The scenery along the river is unmatched, (be sure to place your camera in a waterproof bag & secure it), and the cool clear water is so welcoming during the middle of a hot Arkansas day.