Sanders Orders Delta Water Conservation Amid Arkansas Drought

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (Day.News) — Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders signed an executive order Friday mandating new conservation measures for the Mississippi Delta amid severe drought conditions gripping eastern Arkansas. The order, initially reported by the Arkansas Times, requires farmers and irrigators in Delta counties including Phillips, Desha, and Chicot to reduce groundwater pumping by 20% during peak summer months, addressing critically low levels in the Mississippi River Valley Alluvial Aquifer. State officials cited recent U.S. Geological Survey data showing aquifer declines of up to 2 feet per year in some areas.

The directive builds directly on Executive Order 23-27, issued Aug. 21, 2023, which launched a two-phase update to the 2014 Arkansas Water Plan through the Department of Agriculture's Natural Resources Division. Phase I, completed within 365 days as required, identified the Delta as a 'focus basin' with significant challenges in water availability and quality due to agricultural demands. An interim status report delivered to the governor by Dec. 31, 2024, highlighted urgent needs for conservation strategies, including innovative funding for irrigation upgrades and stakeholder collaboration with groups like the Delta Council and local legislators.

Delta stakeholders, including rice and soybean farmers from communities like Helena-West Helena and McGehee, have voiced support tempered by economic concerns. 'We're irrigating less soy this year already, but mandates must pair with federal aid,' said Arkansas Farm Bureau President Bo Adams. The order also calls for enhanced monitoring of water quality trends and flood mitigation infrastructure assessments in Phase II, set to conclude later this year, amid projections of continued drought through 2026.

This action aligns with Sanders' broader Arkansas Forward initiative, which includes separate 2024-2026 executive orders streamlining permitting for economic projects while protecting resources. Natural Resources Division Director Austin Booth emphasized statewide engagement, noting input from federal agencies, water planning groups, and local entities to develop basin-specific solutions.