The Buffalo River Conservation Commission (BRCC) met via internet in a Zoom meeting Friday morning, Dec. 20. Arkansas Secretary of Agriculture Wes Ward said the meeting's main objective was to gather any last minute information from its subcommittees to add to the annual report that will be presented to the governor and the public next month.
On Sept. 23, 2019, Governor Asa Hutchinson signed Executive Order 19-14 establishing BRCC which replaced the Beautiful Buffalo River Action Committee that was formed in the wake of a turbulent debate over use of land within the watershed. The state ended up purchasing a controversial commercial hog operation at Mt. Judea and placing a moratorium prohibiting similar operations in the watershed. The future of that moratorium is still undecided.
On Nov. 15, 2019, following approval by the Arkansas Legislative Council, $1 million from the Governor’s discretionary fund was transferred to an Arkansas Department of Agriculture fund account to support grants and projects within the Buffalo River Watershed. An additional $1 million contribution was pledged by private donors in support of the Buffalo River Watershed Enhancement Project, a regional project funded in part through the U. S. Department of Agriculture’s Regional Conservation Partnership Program.
The BRCC managed those funds and awarded grants for several projects, mostly in Newton and Searcy counties, for developing roads and improving water and sewer systems.
The funds were exhausted in 2024. As of present there has been no legislative action taken to appropriate money to replenish the account.
Gordon Watkins, president of the Buffalo River Watershed Association, which fought against the concentrated animal feeding operation and continues to monitor discussions of the moratorium inside the watershed, questioned Ward if there would be funding to allow the BRCC to continue the good work it had accomplished.
Ward said the Legislative Session begins in January and it would be learned if there are any proposals to continue funding for the BRCC. During the course of meetings several state officials and legislators suggested the committee members to pass resolutions recommending continued funding.
Nevertheless, Ward said the committee will not be formally dissolved as its work will be falling to the Agriculture Department and its divisions. Its partnership will continue with the Department of Energy and Environment and the Department of Parks, Heritage and Tourism.
If the legislature does not appropriate funds dedicated to the BRCC, Ward said the individual departments would work collaboratively and utilize their resources to provide funding for projects in the watershed that meet BRCC criteria.
Several projects earmarked BRCC funds are still in progress including water and sewer projects in Jasper and Marshall, and road improvement projects in Newton County.
