LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – The latest report from the Arkansas Department of Agriculture presents some positive news alongside less encouraging findings in its 2024 Groundwater Levels and Trends report.
The report stated that groundwater withdrawal in eastern and southern Arkansas “remains unsustainable.” The study recommends continued monitoring, data collection, conservation efforts and water use planning to reverse the trend.
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Some positive news came regarding the condition of two aquifers in the state: The Alluvial, located along the state’s eastern border, and the Sparta, which covers the south and east of the state.
The Alluvial aquifer levels declined over the past year and the past five years but have shown a “slight” rebound over the past decade, according to the study’s authors. Sparta is recovering in areas of historical decline, especially in Union and Jefferson County, the report stated.
Inaugural Arkansas Lithium Innovation Summit underway in Little Rock
Secretary of Agriculture Wes Ward stated that maintaining groundwater levels is crucial in the state.
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“Approximately 71% of Arkansas’s water use is from groundwater, and water demand for crop irrigation is approximately 80% of the total statewide water demand,” Ward said. “Adequate and sustainable groundwater is critical not only to our agriculture industry but also to other industries and our ability to provide safe and reliable drinking water to all Arkansans,”
Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders orders update to Arkansas Water Plan, first since 2014
Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders signed Executive Order 23-27 in August 2023, requiring a comprehensive update of the state’s water plan. Phase I of the update was completed in 2024 as goals were identified. Phase II is scheduled for completion in 2026.
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