2023 Arkansas Water Resources Conference

Co-hosted by:

The Arkansas Forests and Drinking Water Collaborative

University of Arkansas - Arkansas Water Resource Center

Beaver Watershed Alliance

Arkansas Dept. of Agriculture - Natural Resource Division

Arkansas Dept. of Agriculture - Forestry Division

Illinois River Watershed Partnership

Conference Summary

The 2023 Arkansas Water Resources Conference was a wonderful opportunity to learn, network with colleagues new and old, and participate in summer recreation in the Ozarks. Nearly 200 water quality professionals, water utilities staff, conservation professionals, government and state agency staff, municipal staff, college students, watershed groups, and the public gathered from across the state. This also served as the summer quarterly meeting for the Arkansas Forests and Drinking Water Collaborative.

Speakers ranged through a variety of topics including:

Annual Nonpoint Source Pollution Stakeholder & Project Review Meeting (Arkansas Dept. of Agriculture – Natural Resources Division)
The Latest Funded Research Projects and Innovations (AR Water Resource Center)
Forestry and Drinking Water (AFDWC)
Source Water Protection (CAW, BWD, BWA)
Arkansas Nutrient Reduction Strategy and Gulf Hypoxia Program (ADA)
In-Stream Restoration Work (AGFC)
Communicating Conservation Connections (Keeping Forests)
Watershed Panel & Discussion (BWA, IRWP, SRWA, BRWA)
Conservation Easements as a water quality tool (NWA Land Trust, CAW, BWD, UofA, BWA)

Download Working Grps Summary

Topics and Presentations

Water Quality Research

The Arkansas Water Resource Center at the University of Arkansas has four new faculty members. Each new professor presented their historical research and what they have planned to implement with regards to water resources for the state of Arkansas. A portion of the agenda was dedicated to approximately 20 student research projects/posters presented.

Non-Point Source Pollution

The AR. Dept of Ag - Natural Resource Division's 319 Non-Point Source Pollution Program annual workshop presented updated watershed plans, the state's nutrient reduction program, and projects funded by the program over the last year.

Source Water Protection & Forest Management

The Dept of Ag - Division of Forestry and the Arkansas Forests and Drinking Water Collaborative hosted presentations focused on building healthy forests for healthy water. Innovative Best Management Practices (BMP's) on forested landscapes to enhance and protect drinking water sources, Source Water Protection Program Funding Case Studies, and restoration for healthy water.

Watersheds Focus

Beaver Watershed Alliance and the Illinois River Watershed Partnership hosted watershed specific topics, two panel discussions, and presentations. Other watersheds groups represented include the Buffalo River Watershed Alliance and Saline River Watershed Alliance. The ADA Division of Natural Resources gave a synopsis of watershed management plans completed, in process, and revisited and a look at the past decade of work in these areas.

Panel Discussions

Panel members from Central Arkansas Water, Beaver Water District, Northwest AR Land Trust, and the University of Arkansas Agriculture Communications Dept discussed conservation easements as a tool for water quality. Watershed groups present held a discussion of sediment/nutrients in their watershed, lessons learned, and looking ahead.

Working Groups

On the 3rd day of the conference, working groups were formed to reflect on discussions held during the first two days and identify needs and priorities to better manage the State’s water resources. Working group themes were identified in advance and brief summaries of the working group priorities and discussions are linked in the pdf link to the right. Raw notes from the sessions are included as Annex A and should be referenced if interested in the summarized content in the link to the right.