First phase of Arkansas Water Plan update completed

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – Arkansas is progressing as state officials announced the first phase of completion of a plan to improve the state’s water system.

Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders announced Tuesday that the first phase of the Arkansas Water Plan update was completed, with plans of starting the next phase within the next few months.

Sanders signed an executive order in 2023 calling for an update to the state’s water plan. The plan provides development and management of water and land resources in Arkansas, according to the Arkansas Department of Agriculture’s website.

Officials from the governor’s office said that phase one consisted of a review of the existing Arkansas Water Plan to determine the necessary changes. State officials said that several meetings were held, and citizens were asked for feedback through a survey.

The data collected was used to develop the listed goals for the Arkansas Water Plan Update:

• Provide drinking water that supports public health and well-being
• Provide water that supports environmental and economic benefits to the state and supports interstate agreements
• Use the best available science, data, tools, practices, and technologies to support water resource planning and management for current and future needs
• Maintain and improve water supply, wastewater, stormwater, and flood control infrastructure and plan for future infrastructure needs
• Maintain, protect, and improve water quality to support designated uses of waterbodies
• Reduce the impacts of future flooding events on people, property, infrastructure, industry, agriculture, and the environment

State officials said the update to the Arkansas Water Plan will be completed in two phases. Sanders said that the new water plan is expected to be completed by Dec. 31.

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