WSP02127

• File Number: 8112.600
• Description: Arkansas White Red Basins Interagency Committee - AWRBIAC
• Basin: Arkansas
• Water Division: 2
• Date: 8/1/1976
• Title: Technical Memorandum - State Regional Futures and Problem Lists -- Activity 2 Phase II -- 1975 National Assessment --- part 1 of 3 -- Cover Page - page 134
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Report/Study

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Much
pumpage.
problem.

of Arkansas is experiencing declining water levels due to high
The eastern third of the state is one broad area with this,
The major use here is irrigation.

Smaller areas of declining water levels include Union, Columbia,
and Jefferson Counties; industry is the greatest user in these areas.

Most rapidly developing cities and many small towns have.now or
are predicting for the near future, water shortages. In addition, many
old rural communities are developing major problems with sewage disposal;
these problems complicate the supply situation.

Poor quality is a major factor in our water problems. Many areas
in the Arkansas River Valley have high iron content in the better
producing aquifers. The eastern part of the state has many areas where
sodium, calcium and magnesium limit the use of irrigation water.

Fresh water aquifers in southern Arkansas have, in isolated areas,
become contaminated by oil field brine; in these areas the water cannot
be used for irrigation. Drainage from strip mines is another source
of contamination. The western part of the state has had both surface
and groundwater supp 1 i es i nfil trated by such poll utants.

Northwest Arkansas, which is one of the fastest growing areas in
the state, is plagued by the lack of data regarding groundwater aquifers.
Neither deep nor shallow aquifers in this area have been explored and
mapped to any extent. There is also a considerable lack of data on stream
conditions and the impact of point and non-point source pollution.

Surface water supplies in Arkansas are plentiful but many have
quality problems which make them unusable for many purposes. Arkansas
River and Red River water can be used for irrigation, but use is limited
to well drained soils by high chloride content. Municipal supplies on
the Arkansas River are discouraged by the Department of Health. Some
smaller streams are polluted to the point that they are not usable for
recreation or water supply.

A great part of the available surface water in Arkansas comes to the
state from the states of Oklahoma, Missouri and Texas; one of the state's
major concerns is the development of intrastate compacts to provide for
an equitable distribution between Arkansas and upstream states.

Flooding by major streams such as the Arkansas, Red, White, and
Mississippi Rivers has been reduced by Corps of Engineers projects;
however, low lying lands along them are still periodically inundated.

Within the State of Arkansas 410 communities--cities, towns and
counties--have been designated flood prone areas by the federal government.
To date only 225 of these communities have adopted regulations for
acquisition and development of flood plain land.

While it is true that some of Arkansas' water problems have been in
existence for many years, most are only now becoming critical.

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