Natural State News

The Arkansas Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Division (NRD), in partnership with the Oklahoma Conservation Commission (OCC), has scheduled the second in a series of public meetings to update the watershed-based management plan for the Illinois River Watershed. The meeting will be held January 24, 2023, in West Siloam Springs, Oklahoma. 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 held the first stakeholder meeting in October 2022 and had over 60 attendees,” said Tate Wentz, NRD Water Quality Section Manager. “The second and third meetings will be focused on conservation practice implementation. We will also be requesting input from landowners about those practices, so it is critical for anyone interested to attend as it will help guide resource allocations to improve water quality into the future.” 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 January 24 from 2 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. and will be held at the Cherokee Casino and Hotel located at 2416 US-412, West Siloam Springs, Oklahoma, 74338. 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, forestry, and natural resources to keep its farmers and ranchers competitive in national and international markets while conserving natural resources and ensuring safe food, fiber, and forest products for the 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.

Original source can be found here.