In 2001, John Gulley a fly fishing guide for 30 years on the North Fork, White, and Little Red Rivers became concerned when a friend said the Corps of Engineers was considering granting a permit to expand and relocate a large dock at the confluence of the North Fork and White Rivers.

John Gulley began researching the issue, calling friends, calling elected representatives, government officials from Little Rock to Dallas to Washington, D.C., inviting and taking people out on the river to show them what would happen if the area were dredged as proposed. He spent his days on the river and nights and weekends on the phone, along with his wife, Betsy.

Through these efforts, the Corps of Engineers reconsidered the permit, reduced the size of the dock, moved it upstream, and prohibited dredging or raking of the riverbed.

Inspired by Gulley's action, citizens joined with John to form a new organization called Friends of the North Fork and White Rivers. John served as its first president and remains on the board of directors. The nonprofit organization's focus is on the North Fork and White Rivers from the dams to Sylamore near Mountain View.

Other environmental concerns have come into focus under John Gulley's watchful eye. Indeed, John's focus is always the same: Look at the river. John always wants to talk about the river and show people the river, the water, the fish, the gravel, the vegetation, and how it relates to the lives of those around it. The river has been John's "guide."