The Arkansas Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Division (NRD), in partnership with the Oklahoma Conservation Commission (OCC), has scheduled the first in a series of public meetings to update the watershed-based management plan for the Illinois River Watershed. The meeting will be held October 11 in Siloam Springs.
The Illinois River and its tributaries have a variety of uses set forth by the Arkansas Pollution Control and Ecology Commission (APCEC), including fisheries, recreation, drinking water supply, and agricultural and industrial water supply. The goal of this watershed-based plan is to protect and improve water quality in streams and other waterbodies by addressing non-regulatory issues through voluntary activities or practices.
“The NRD and the OCC are working collaboratively to host a series of stakeholder meetings that will guide the update of the Illinois River Watershed management plan for the next decade,” said Tate Wentz, NRD Water Quality Section Manager. “The two states’ holistic approach to update the plan in unison will better align nonpoint source needs across the entire watershed.”
The meeting is open to the public and will provide an overview of the watershed management planning process. Stakeholders will discuss water quality issues, conservation practices, the current state of the watershed, and the next steps in the development of the management plan.
The meeting is set for October 11 from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. and will be held at the First Baptist Church located at 2000 Dawn Hill Rd., Siloam Springs, Arkansas, 72761.
For more information about the meeting, contact Tate Wentz at tate.wentz@agriculture.arkansas.gov.
For more information about the Illinois River Watershed, visit www.irwp.org/.
The Arkansas Department of Agriculture is dedicated to the development and implementation of policies and programs for Arkansas agriculture and forestry to keep its farmers and ranchers competitive in national and international markets while ensuring safe food, fiber, and forest products for citizens of the state and nation. Visit agriculture.arkansas.gov/. The Arkansas Department of Agriculture offers its programs to all eligible persons regardless of race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability and is an Equal Opportunity Employer.