Black Rock, Arkansas – Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders has announced $8.2 million in financial assistance for three water, wastewater and irrigation projects across the state, continuing a broader effort to improve aging water infrastructure and provide reliable service to communities.
Two of the approved projects will directly support systems serving a combined 1,848 customers in Black Rock and Stamps. The third and by far the largest award will provide additional financing for a major irrigation project designed to bring surface water to hundreds of thousands of acres.
“Reliable water infrastructure is essential to Arkansas’ growth, from our farms and businesses to families and communities across the state,” said Governor Sanders. “These projects will strengthen critical water systems, support economic growth, and ensure Arkansas families have clean drinking water. We’re investing in the resources our communities need to keep the Natural State the best place in America to live, work, raise a family, and do business.”
The funding comes as Arkansas officials estimate that the state will face more than $20 billion in water infrastructure needs during the next two decades. Aging systems and a lack of capacity are among the major issues contributing to that projected need.
“Arkansas is facing more than $20 billion in water-infrastructure needs over the next two decades due to aging systems and lack of capacity,” said Arkansas Secretary of Agriculture Wes Ward. “Today’s funding helps communities strengthen the essential systems that protect public health, support economic growth, and provide the reliable water service Arkansans depend on every day.”
Black Rock and Stamps receive emergency funding
The City of Black Rock in Lawrence County was approved for a $100,000 emergency loan through the Water Development Fund.
The city’s system currently serves a customer base of 590. The newly approved money will be used to make improvements to a sewer lift station.
Another $100,000 emergency loan from the same fund was approved for the City of Stamps in Lafayette County.
Stamps currently has a customer base of 1,258. The funding will go toward repairs at the city’s wastewater treatment plant.
Together, the two projects involve systems serving 1,848 customers and are intended to address immediate infrastructure needs.
“Maintaining and improving water infrastructure is critical to Arkansas’ long-term success,” said Chris Colclasure, Director of the Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Division. “These investments give communities the support they need to reinforce drinking water, wastewater, and irrigation systems, ensuring dependable service for residents, businesses, and agriculture across the state.”
Grand Prairie irrigation project receives $8 million
The largest portion of the newly announced assistance is going to the White River Regional Irrigation District in Prairie County.
The district was approved for an $8 million loan through the General Obligation Bond Program. The additional funding will allow construction to continue on the Grand Prairie Demonstration Project.
Once the project is completed, it is expected to provide surface water irrigation to more than 362,000 acres located within areas where groundwater supplies are considered critical.
The irrigation investment makes up the majority of the $8.2 million package and adds an agricultural component to the two community wastewater projects receiving emergency assistance.
The latest funding is part of a much larger water infrastructure effort undertaken during Sanders’ administration. Since she took office, approximately $2.8 billion in state and federal funding has been approved for water and wastewater projects benefiting all 75 Arkansas counties.
Arkansas has also been working on a broader review of how the state manages its water resources.
In 2023, Sanders issued Executive Order 23-27, beginning a comprehensive review and update of the Arkansas Water Plan. The plan addresses several major areas, including water resources, supply, demand and water quality.
The Arkansas Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers completed the first phase of that work in August 2024.
The second phase is now underway and is expected to be completed in 2026.
State officials say continued investment will be necessary as Arkansas deals with aging infrastructure, capacity limits and growing water needs. The newly approved $8.2 million package addresses several parts of that challenge at once, providing emergency assistance for local wastewater systems while supporting a large irrigation project aimed at reducing pressure on critical groundwater resources.
