Arkansas Continues Progress with Oklahoma on the Illinois River

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: November 13, 2019

NORTH LITTLE ROCK—The Illinois River Watershed Steering Committee held its first public meeting November 7 in West Siloam Springs, Okla. The Memorandum of Agreement, signed by Arkansas and Oklahoma in 2018 and implemented in 2019, is a state and tribal agreement including a framework for cooperative work between state policy leaders and stakeholders to reduce phosphorus and implement other watershed improvements. This meeting was a first step in charting a path forward on science-based regulatory actions and permitting. The committee comprises Becky Keogh, Secretary of the Arkansas Department of Energy and Environment; Wes Ward, Secretary of the Arkansas Department of Agriculture; Kenneth Wagner, Secretary of the Oklahoma Department of Energy and Environment; Blayne Arthur, Secretary of the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture; and Chad Harsha, Secretary of Natural Resources for the Cherokee Nation.

“This framework builds on more than $300 million in investments in technology and programs by our cities and agriculture industry to reduce phosphorus in the Illinois River watershed,” Keogh said. “This is an example of how we can advance environmental protection while preventing paralysis of economic development and growth in Northwest Arkansas.”

Representatives of Arkansas and Oklahoma started meeting in February to begin the work necessary to improve water quality in the Illinois River watershed. Initial discussions from this effort, as reported at the steering committee meeting, focused on the rulemaking necessary in Oklahoma in response to recommendations from a joint study performed by Baylor University and funded by Arkansas. The recommendations are related to the criteria for established phosphorous levels in the Illinois River watershed in Oklahoma.

“We appreciate the invitation for Arkansas’s engagement with the Oklahoma Water Resources Board as they work to accelerate a rule proposal by February 2020," Keogh said.

Ward echoed Keogh’s appreciation, noting that this initial meeting was a positive first step.

“The Arkansas Department of Agriculture was pleased to participate in the public meeting and looks forward to working with our partners in Oklahoma as the committee moves forward,” Ward said.

A monitoring and assessment workgroup led by the standard-setting agencies reported on an initial meeting held to create a common platform and agreement on data collection, review, and assessment.

Next steps will be to charter subcommittees to engage stakeholders. This will include the formation of a watershed advisory subcommittee chaired by both states to develop a Watershed Improvement Plan focusing on both beneficial infrastructure and agricultural practices.

CONTACT: [email protected]

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