Activities in Arkansas
The diverse terrain and climates of Arkansas, represented in their seven distinct ecoregions, create a broad range of habitats that support a rich array of species. The Ozark hellbender and alligator gar are just two of the more than 200 species of fish found in Arkansas and their health, and the health of their habitat, help to sustain the natural beauty and resources of the state, but also its economy. Fishing, aquaculture, and waterfowl hunting are major pieces of the Arkansas economy. The Arkansas State Wildlife Action Plan has created a coordinated and partner-based approach for long-term wildlife conservation. It has identified 18 categories of threats to wildlife and prioritized 369 species. As part of the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission’s continuing efforts to provide critical information to the state’s outdoorsmen, the agency is developing the Conservation for Arkansas Network, a database to connect with hunters, anglers and wildlife watchers.
Arkansas State Wildlife Action Plan
More about conservation in Arkansas
SARP Contact: Mike Armstrong, Chief of Fisheries, Arkansas Game & Fish Commission
Key Focus Areas:
AQUATIC NUISANCE SPECIES (ANS)
ARKANSAS ANS Management Plan Project
Current Status of ANS Management Plan: Final revisions.
SARP ANS Contact: Mark Oliver, Arkansas Game & Fish Commission
For more information: http://www.aragriculture.org/horticulture/invasivespeciesguide08.pdf
SARP ANS Coordinator: Jeffrey Herod
Program Activity:
SOUTHEASTERN INSTREAM FLOW NETWORK (SIFN)
Arkansas Instream Flow Project
Current Instream Flow Policy: Arkansas Game and Fish Commission established the “Arkansas Method” in 1987 as their instream flow policy. The policy informs permitting of surface water withdrawals to riparian users by the Arkansas Natural Resource Commission. The “Arkansas Method” sets seasonal minimum flows as: 60% mean monthly flow (MMF) November-March; 70% MMF April-July; and 50% MMF or median monthly flow July-October.
SIFN State Team participant organizations:
- Arkansas Game and Fish Commission
- Arkansas Natural Resource Commission
- US Geological Survey
- Arkansas Heritage
- The Nature Conservancy
SARP SIFN Contact: Steve Filipek, Assistant Chief, Fisheries Division, AGFC
SIFN Coordinator: Marilyn Barrett-O’Leary
Instream Flow Updates:
Arkansas SIFN Update – Fall 2011
The Arkansas Natural Resources Commission (ANRC) asked the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission to assist with funding the State Water Plan revision. The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission is considering funding $1,000,000 for the plan development. ANRC will be developing this plan over the next few years.
Attached is a project update from Dr. Dan Magoulick on the project that he and Dr. Scott Longing are working on. ANRC has also been coordinating with Paul Blanchard of Missouri DOC, Dr. Craig Paukert of the MO Coop Unit, and Dr. Shannon Brewer at the OK State Coop Unit about their instream flow projects since all are doing work in the Ozarks.
- In preparation for additional studies, the SIFN state team has initiated pilot studies on the Upper Saline and Little Red Rivers to establish flow requirements. If successful, the methods and data that result from these studies will inform improved instream flow criteria in the future.
- 2010:
Established water education/instreamflow in the state.
Two hydrological studies on two rivers are now being merged with biological data.
Trying to get a new state water plan. Organized by several legislators and includes many agencies and participation of Nature Conservancy staff. It is a second try, and hopefully will be successful. Meanwhile the education efforts have begun to pay off.
TNC has undertaken hydrolic studies to demonstrate the use of instream flows for water planning.
They have an educational grant to do flow education with Audubon (Winthrop).
There is a need to authorize language in the state water management plan (3 staff with part-time responsibility for getting instream flow into water planning).
The message is getting out and people are referring to instream flows!
The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission is funding a SWG project to develop relationships between flow alteration and fish community responses for the Ozarks. Dan Magoulick (Arkansas Coop Unit) and several co-investigators will implement the project.