ARKANSAS WATER PLAN UPDATE TASK NO. 6 - SOUTHWEST ARKANSAS WATER RESOURCES PLANNING REGION AUGUST 11, 2014 ARKANSAS WATER PLAN UPDATE TASK NO. 6 - SOUTHWEST ARKANSAS WATER RESOURCES PLANNING REGION Prepared for Arkansas Natural Resources Commission 101 East Capitol Avenue, Suite 350 Little Rock, AR 72201-3813 Prepared by FTN Associates, Ltd. 3 Innwood Circle, Suite 220 Little Rock, Arkansas 72211 FTN No. 03015-0003-001 August 11, 2014 August 11, 2014 TABLE OF CONTENTS 1.0 INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................... 1-1 2.0 GEOGRAPHY AND HISTORY ..................................................................................... 2-1 2.1 Geography ............................................................................................................ 2-1 2.2 History.................................................................................................................. 2-3 2.2.1 Cultural .................................................................................................... 2-3 2.2.2 Water Resources Development ................................................................ 2-5 3.0 PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS ................................................................................ 3-1 3.1 Physiography........................................................................................................ 3-1 3.1.1 West Gulf Coastal Plain Province............................................................ 3-1 3.1.2 Ouachita Mountain Province ................................................................... 3-3 3.2 Geologic Setting................................................................................................... 3-4 3.2.1 Geology of the West Gulf Coastal Plain Province ................................... 3-4 3.2.2 Geology of the Ouachita Mountain Province .......................................... 3-6 3.3 Ecoregions............................................................................................................ 3-7 3.4 Aquatic Biodiversity .......................................................................................... 3-11 3.5 Climate ............................................................................................................... 3-11 3.5.1 Temperature ........................................................................................... 3-11 3.5.2 Precipitation ........................................................................................... 3-17 3.5.3 Evaporation ............................................................................................ 3-21 3.5.4 Drought .................................................................................................. 3-21 3.5.5 Climate Variability................................................................................. 3-23 3.6 Land Use ............................................................................................................ 3-26 3.6.1 Forest...................................................................................................... 3-26 3.6.2 Agriculture ............................................................................................. 3-29 3.6.3 Wetlands ................................................................................................ 3-30 3.6.4 Public Land ............................................................................................ 3-32 3.7 Surface Water ..................................................................................................... 3-32 i August 11, 2014 TABLE OF CONTENTS (CONTINUED) 3.7.1 Rivers and Streams ................................................................................ 3-33 3.7.2 Lakes and Impoundments ...................................................................... 3-38 3.7.3 Wetlands ................................................................................................ 3-39 3.7.4 Surface Water Quality ............................................................................ 3-39 3.8 Groundwater ...................................................................................................... 3-40 3.8.1 Aquifers.................................................................................................. 3-40 3.8.2 Ground Water Quality ............................................................................ 3-52 3.9 Groundwater-Surface Water Connections ......................................................... 3-56 4.0 SOCIO-ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS ................................................................. 4-1 4.1 Demographics ...................................................................................................... 4-1 4.1.1 2010 Population ....................................................................................... 4-1 4.1.2 Changes from 1990 .................................................................................. 4-5 4.2 Income and Employment ..................................................................................... 4-6 4.2.1 Current Income and Employment Levels ................................................ 4-6 4.2.2 Changes in Income and Employment from 1990 .................................... 4-7 4.3 Economic Drivers ................................................................................................ 4-8 4.3.1 Current Regional Economic Drivers ........................................................ 4-8 4.3.2 Comparison to 1990 Regional Economy ............................................... 4-16 4.4 Waste Generation and Disposal ......................................................................... 4-19 4.4.1 Solid Waste ............................................................................................ 4-19 4.4.2 Hazardous Waste ................................................................................... 4-20 4.4.3 Wastewater and Stormwater .................................................................. 4-21 5.0 WATER RESOURCES ISSUES ..................................................................................... 5-1 5.1 Flooding ............................................................................................................... 5-1 5.2 Red River Waterborne Transportation ................................................................. 5-1 5.3 Water Supply ....................................................................................................... 5-2 5.3.1 Monitoring ............................................................................................... 5-2 5.3.2 Red River Alluvial Aquifer ...................................................................... 5-3 ii August 11, 2014 TABLE OF CONTENTS (CONTINUED) 5.3.3 Sparta Aquifer ............................................ 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Bookmark not defined. 5.3.4 Cane River Aquifer .................................................................................. 5-5 5.3.5 Carrizo Aquifer ........................................................................................ 5-5 5.3.6 Wilcox Aquifer ........................................................................................ 5-6 5.3.7 Nacatoch Aquifer ..................................................................................... 5-6 5.3.8 Ozan Aquifer ............................................................................................ 5-8 5.3.9 Tokio Aquifer ........................................................................................... 5-8 5.3.10 Trinity Aquifer ......................................................................................... 5-9 5.3.11 Critical Groundwater Areas ................................................................... 5-10 5.4 Water Quality Issues .......................................................................................... 5-12 5.4.1 Water Quality Monitoring...................................................................... 5-12 5.4.2 Non-attainment of Surface Water Quality Standards ............................ 5-18 5.4.3 Nutrient Surplus Area ............................................................................ 5-24 5.4.4 Non-attainment of Drinking Water Quality Standards and Water Quality Guidelines by Groundwater ................................................................... 5-25 5.4.5 Fish Consumption Advisories ................................................................ 5-26 5.4.6 Nonpoint Source Pollution ..................................................................... 5-27 5.4.7 Contaminants of Emerging Concern ...................................................... 5-27 5.5 Water Infrastructure ........................................................................................... 5-29 5.6 Loss of Aquatic Biodiversity ............................................................................. 5-29 6.0 INSTITUTIONAL AND REGULATORY SETTING .................................................... 6-1 6.1 Legal Framework ................................................................................................. 6-1 6.1.1 Federal Laws and Regulatory Programs .................................................. 6-1 6.1.2 Federal Laws and Assistance Programs ................................................. 6-10 6.1.3 State Laws and Regulatory Programs .................................................... 6-16 6.1.4 State Financial Assistance Programs ....................................................