Craighead County, AR – JonesboroRightNow.com – The Arkansas Department of Agriculture has been awarded a $3,175,000 federal grant to reduce nonpoint source pollution across the state, with several funded projects directly targeting watersheds that affect Northeast Arkansas.

The funding, provided by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Clean Water Act Section 319(h) Grant Program, will support 18 conservation and water quality projects statewide.

Northeast Arkansas water systems stand to benefit from major funding allocated to regional river basins, particularly the Cache River. Local stormwater and agricultural runoff from areas west and northwest of Jonesboro feed into the Cache River basin. As a result, basin-wide conservation efforts directly impact Craighead County’s overall water quality and drainage resilience.

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Local and regional allocations include:

• The Nature Conservancy ($321,049): Funding will be used to implement conservation-based drainage practices in the Cache River Watershed through GIS analysis, field surveys, and targeted management.
• Clay County Conservation District ($137,890): This grant will fund efforts to reduce nutrient and sediment runoff in priority Cache River tributaries just north of Craighead County.
• St. Francis County Conservation District ($56,224): Funds will support best management practices, workshops, and landowner training in the nearby St. Francis basin.

Nonpoint source pollution occurs when rainfall or snowmelt moves over the ground, picking up natural and human-made pollutants such as agricultural runoff, sediment, and debris, and depositing them into lakes, rivers, and wetlands.

According to state officials, projects were selected based on priorities outlined in the 2024–2029 Nonpoint Source Management Plan, with a focus on voluntary practices in targeted watersheds, reducing pollutant loads, and expanding community education.

When combined with local partner matching contributions, this funding cycle represents a total investment of more than $5.5 million into the state’s water infrastructure.

“Clean water is critical to the quality of life that we enjoy in Arkansas and is one of the most important investments that we can make in our state’s future,” said Arkansas Secretary of Agriculture Wes Ward in a press release from the Arkansas Department of Agriculture. “These investments strengthen partnerships and help ensure that our rivers, lakes, and streams remain healthy for every Arkansan now and into the future.”

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