top of page

Arkansas Forests and Drinking Water Forum #4

Watershed_Resources_Confernce_savedate_021522-03.jpg

The Arkansas Water Resource Center (AWRC), Arkansas Forests and Drinking Water Collaborative (AFDWC), the Arkansas Department of Agriculture – Forest Division, and the Beaver Watershed Alliance (BWA), hosted a watershed resource conference July 13-14, 2022.  The conference was held at the Waldrip Hall in the state-of-the-art Don Tyson Center for Agricultural Sciences, an iconic research and education facility in Fayetteville, Arkansas.  This served as the biannual forum for The Arkansas Forests and Drinking Water Collaborative which was delayed in fall, 2021 due to continuing covid restrictions.  We were excited to reconnect with all of you at this event.  This conference hosted speakers and presentations on Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs), Recreation, Source Water Protection, and Incentivized Conservation for Water Quality Improvement:

​

  • The conference was offered both in-person and virtual.  

  • Download full agenda 

  • Student and Faculty Research Posters

  • Evening Social Event: (Wed.) July 13th: Marley's Pizzeria & Bar.  6 pm.

  • Afternoon Field Tours July 14th: Riparian Re-forestation Demo Site @ U of A, Low Impact Development @ Mount Kessler, River Restoration Project @ West Fork White River.

​

​

Forum Highlights

Conference Goals

1. Understand how current state and federal programs can advance source water protection and assist landowners in conservation activities,
2. Learn about ongoing research, management, and monitoring for harmful algal blooms,
3. Re-ignite forestry and water partnerships, promote their efforts and
secure funding post Co-vid.

Program Highlights

  • Presentations on Latest Funded Research Projects: Harmful Algal Blooms

  • Discussion Panel with Water Utilities

  • Conservation that Pays: Incentivized Conservation

  • Source Water Protection Projects in Arkansas

  • Beaver Lake Watershed – Source Water Protection 

  • Prescribed Fire and Forest Resiliency

  • Low Impact Development

  • Agricultural Initiatives

  • Stream Restoration /Low Water Crossings/Dam Removals

  • Field Tours of Local Conservation Projects

​

Network and engage with water resource professionals on how to sustain, improve, and protect our state’s most precious resources – forests and water. 

Download full agenda here.

Planning Committee

  •  Chandler Barton – Ar. Dept. of Ag - Forestry Division

  • Joy Wasson - AFDWC

  • Becky Roark - Beaver Watershed Alliance

  • Dr. Brian Haggard - U of A, Arkansas Water Resource Center

Source Water Protection Panelists

  • Brett McDaniel & Trevor Voegele, Conway Corporation

  • Raven Lawson, Central Arkansas Water

  • James McCarty, Beaver Water District

  • Hal Halvorson, University of Central Arkansas

Forestry & Conservation Presenters

  • Tate Wentz & Savannah Howell - Non Point Source Program, Dept. of Ag - Nat. Resource Division

  • Amanda Mathis, Roger Cousins, & Canton Ford - Natural Resource Conservation Service

  • Chas McCoy & McRee Anderson - The Nature Conservancy

  • John Beasley & Robert Floyd - Dept. of Ag. - Forestry Division

  • Raven Lawson - Central Arkansas Water

  • James McCarty - Beaver Water District

  • Lance Jobe, City of Rogers

  • Sandi Formica & Matt Vaneps - Watershed Conservation Resource Center

bottom of page