Arkansas Water Plan Update: Arkansas Department of Agriculture Announces Additional Public Meetings

The Arkansas Department of Agriculture (“ADA”) announced that it will facilitate virtual meetings that will be held on February 24th and 25th as part of its process for updating the Arkansas Water Plan (“AWP”).

The virtual meetings have been designated as follows:

• Water and Wastewater Infrastructure and Water Quality Meeting.
  • Date: February 24, 2026.
  • Time: 9:30 a.m. – 11 a.m.
    • 9:30 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. | Infrastructure Survey & Summary.
    • 10:00 a.m. – 10:30a.m. | Water Quality Trend Analysis.
    • 10:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. | Stakeholder Q&A.
  • Link to Join: https://uada.zoom.us/j/83263466676?pwd=z2AFevGPLow6iUlY11qniovaU4lP1X.1
  • Password: 782868
• Water Supply and Demand Analysis Meeting.
  • Date: February 25, 2026.
  • Time: 9:30 a.m. – 11 a.m.
    • 9:30 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. | Water Supply.
    • 10:00 a.m. – 10:30a.m. | Water Demand.
    • 10:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. | Stakeholder Q&A.
  • Link to Join: https://uada.zoom.us/j/83263466676?pwd=z2AFevGPLow6iUlY11qniovaU4lP1X.1
  • Password: 782868

The Arkansas General Assembly had previously delegated responsibility for state water sources planning to the predecessor organization for the ADA Natural Resources Division (“NRD”) – The Arkansas Solid Waste Conservation Commission in 1969. Further, the Arkansas General Assembly provided that Soil and Water Conservation Commission the statutory authority to develop the first AWP in 1975.

The AWP has been described as the State’s policy for long-term management of water. It was updated in 1990 and 2014.

The NRD has described the purpose of the AWP as bringing:

… data, science, and public input together to define water demands, water supplies, and potential solutions to our future needs.

Governor Sanders previously issued an Executive Order (“EO”) requesting that the Arkansas Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Division undertake:

• A comprehensive analysis/report of the State’s water needs.
• Update the AWP.

See EO 23-27.

The EO recognizes the role of both the NRD and the AWP in the State of Arkansas’ water resources. It further noted that the AWP has not been updated for almost ten years and that there is:

… urgent need to update the plan in order to meet the changing needs of communities, large and small – across the state.

A copy of the ADA announcement can be found here.