Arkansas Forests &
Drinking Water Collaborative
Welcome
Welcome to the Arkansas Forests and Drinking Water Collaborative, a partnership committed to keeping our forests healthy and forested, particularly in key watersheds that provide clean drinking water for Arkansans today and for generations to come. Our efforts are focused on building partnerships between water professionals, forest industry professionals, conservationists, and other stakeholders to plan for the future collaboratively. We promote awareness of the connections between forests, water, and the economy, and work to ensure that Arkansas' natural resources are used in strategic and sustainable ways. If you are interested in getting involved or learning more about what we do, contact us today.
Save the Date:
Field Tour w/ Fort Smith Waterworks
In 2024, our meetings will occur quarterly on the following months: February, May, *July 16-18th (Arkansas Water Resource Conference), and November. Each meeting (outside of July) will be held on the 2nd Tuesday of that month at 10 am.
Save the date for the next AFDWC Quarterly Meeting to be held 2nd Tuesday of May, Tuesday, May 14th 10 am - 2 pm (alternate date Tues, May 21st for weather issues). This meeting will be a field tour of floodplain restoration projects led by Tim Smith with Fort Smith Waterworks and will be in-person only. Please RSVP by email (arforestsandwater@gmail.com) if plan to attend.
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Meeting Location: Lake Fort Smith State Park at 10 am. These projects are an effort to reduce sediment coming into the lake and each site shows different stages of post-restoration conditions. Logistical updates and project fact sheets coming soon. Save the date now and join us on a great spring outing to connect and learn from each other.
SAVE THE DATE!
Call For Presentations
Add to your calendar the next annual AR Water Resources Conference for 2024 to be held again at the Don Tyson Agricultural Center July 16-18th. Last year's conference included presentations on the latest water quality research, introductions to 4 new teaching staff at the University of Arkansas, two discussion panels, a review of the 319 Non-point source pollution program funded projects, student posters, and many recreational opportunities provided throughout the conference!
2024 CALL FOR PRESENTATIONS
This year, the Arkansas Water Resources Conference is soliciting oral and poster presentations for this year’s conference, July 16-18, 2024. The conference organizers will consider a variety of topics including but not limited to:
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Water quality and quantity myths
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Lakes, Streams, and other Limnological Studies
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State and Regional Water Quality Monitoring Programs
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Groundwater Science and Management
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Nonpoint Source Pollution Management
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Watershed Science and Management
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Water Quality and Hydrology Modeling
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Stormwater Management and Education
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Water Treatment Processes
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Emerging Contaminants
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Wetland Science, Habitat, and Management
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Fisheries Science and Management
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Stakeholder Involvement and Conservation
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Stream and Riparian Restoration
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Best Management Practices
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Forests and Water
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Please consider submitting abstracts for oral and/or poster presentations of your exciting work!
Presentation proposals must be submitted by April 12, 2024, and the proposals should be emailed to Brian Haggard, haggard@uark.edu.
Arkansas Story Map
Thanks to the U.S. Forest Service's Southern Research Station, you can now learn so much more about our drinking water resources in Arkansas. Click here or on the map for more info.
Sixty-one percent (61%) of all Arkansans drink water that originates in forested watersheds. Maintaining healthy forests is the best protection that we can provide for our water.
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This group meets quarterly in a hybrid setting (both virtual and in-person). For this summer's meeting we encourage you to attend the conference we are co-hosting July 23-25th, 2024 in Fayetteville, Arkansas at the Don Tyson Agricultural Center.
OUR PROJECTS
The Arkansas Forests and Drinking Water Collaborative is supported by the Southeastern Partnership for Forests and Water, a partnership effort of the U.S. Endowment for Forestry and Communities and the U.S. Forest Service. If you have a project in Arkansas that supports clean water and healthy forests, please let us know by clicking below! Come back to see updates soon.
We are always in need of helping hands. If you like to volunteer on river side tree plantings, help organize meetings/field tours, brainstorm project ideas, and/or research funding, we can use your help. Contact us below.
The Arkansas Forests and Drinking Water Collaborative is supported by the Southeastern Partnership for Forests and Water, a partnership effort of the U.S. Endowment for Forestry and Communities and the U.S. Forest Service. Did you know that clean water grows on trees? Click below to learn more about how the Southeast Partnership is working to help communities plan for the future.
The Southern Group of State Foresters and the Southeastern Partnership for Forests and Water have released a great video series regarding forests and source water protection. Click on our Video page to see these.