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Arkansas Forests & Drinking Water Collaborative Forum #1

On May 26 and 27th, 45 stakeholders from Arkansas’s forestry and drinking water sectors convened at Camp Mitchell on Petit Jean Mountain at the first-ever Arkansas Forests and Drinking Water Forum to explore the connections between forests and drinking water and to brainstorm ways to work together to continue to sustain these two very important and interdependent resources.

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This forum Forum was intended to begin a collaborative relationship between the forestry and drinking water sectors, and to think creatively about Arkansas's future to help ensure the viability of both sectors.

Hand Touching Water

Forum Overview

Forum Goals

  • Information sharing and learning

  • Start conversation between forestry and drinking water stakeholders

  • Network/build relationships among the two sectors

  • Develop next steps

  • Have fun!

Field Tour

  • Forum participants gathered the day before the Forum to go on a watershed restoration site tour sponsored by Central Arkansas Water. Participants toured the Winrock Grass Farm Forest Legacy Restoration Project, which highlighted water utility and landowner collaboration, land acquisition, stream bank restoration, and a tree planting demonstration/research site.

Presentations, Discussions

  • Examples of Forestry/Drinking Water sector collaborations

  • Funding sources

  • Public outreach, education, messaging tools

  • Unique issues and challenges to each sector

Breakout Sessions

  • Group 1: How to address public outreach and messaging needs for drinking water, forestry, and the connection between the two?

  • Group 2: How to address resource needs for forestry and drinking water, including collaborative efforts?

  • Group 3: What would successful Arkansas forestry-drinking water collaborations/efforts look like?  What results to we want to achieve?

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