Conservation Resource Dashboard: Tate Wentz (Water Quality Section Manager) Arkansas Natural Resources Commission Presentation

Tate Wentz undertook a presentation at the February 28 Arkansas Natural Resources Commission (“ANRC”) meeting titled:

         Conservation Resource Dashboard (“Presentation”).

Tate serves as the Water Quality Section Manager at ANRC.

ANRC adopts, modifies, and enforces rules related to water conservation, development, management, and planning. It consists of nine members appointed by the Governor.

One of ANRC’s activities is the issuance of General Obligation Bonds to finance water development projects. Further, it uses proceeds from the bond programs and additional state and federal funds to make loans and grants, primarily for water, wastewater, irrigation, and solid waste projects.

Key points of Tate’s Presentation included:

• Renewed focus for Arkansas conservation districts to initiate locally led meetings to guide on-the-ground conservation efforts.
• The Conservation Resource Dashboard (“CRD”) is intended to provide conservation districts with a one-stop-shop of the Arkansas Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resource Division Assistance programs and resource concerns.

Note that Clyde Williams from the Natural Resources Conservation Service gave a similar presentation on February 29th at the Arkansas Association of Conservation District’s  annual meeting.

The Presentation noted in terms of Arkansas conservation partners:

• Strategic planning.
• Resource concerns.
• Outcomes.

Locally led efforts include:

• Funding.
• County resource concerns.
• Recommended practice.
• County goals.

The strategic priority is stated to include:

• Defining conservation and telling the story of conservation to the public including elected officials and decision-makers.
• Statement of intent
  • By 2024, Arkansas conservation partners will work together to align various priorities to leverage resources for achieving conservation objectives.
  • By 2025 and annually, education of elected officials on who we are, what we do, and why it is important.
• Various action items involving elected officials, etc.

The Presentation noted various Natural Resources Division assistance programs such as:

• Arkansas water quality loans.
• Animal agriculture (nutrient management plans, poultry litter management).
• Flood control.
• Soil health (regenerative agri./cover crops).
• Arkansas feral hog eradication taskforce.
• Water quality (erosion control).
  • What is nonpoint source pollution?
  • Potential sources of nonpoint source pollution.
  • 2022 Arkansas nutrient reduction strategy update.

A copy of the Presentation can be downloaded here.