Q. What is the White River Basin Study?​

A. The study seeks to create a comprehensive water resource management strategy for the White River Basin which provides sustainable water resource management while taking into consideration flood risk management, environmental protection, water supply, hydropower generation, agricultural practices, and social well-being.​​

Q. Why are you doing the study?​

A. Significant flooding in the White River Basin has occurred nearly annually since 2008. The impact to northern Arkansas and southern Missouri is in the $100s of millions of dollars. Additionally, over the past 70 years, the demographics of the basin have changed significantly with the northern part of the basin seeing up to 500% growth and the agriculturally dependent southern basin declining in population and experience increasing poverty. The new study would address all these social, economic, and environmental changes and ensure a comprehensive and equitable water-use strategy for the future.​

Q. How much will the study cost?​

A. The study will cost an estimated $5M to be cost shared between the federal government and the sponsor (Arkansas State University Jonesboro). There could be additional costs involved as studies of this nature often identify actions for watershed improvement that are beyond the scope and authority of USACE.​​

Q. Will population growth in the northern basin negatively impact farmers and businesses in the southern part of the basin?​

A. One of the objectives of the study is to look at the changes across the basin as a whole and ensure that future operations not only meet the needs of the northern basin, but also ensure that underserved communities are represented, and their needs addressed.​​

Q. Where will the authorities for the study come from?​

A. While there is no specific authority for the White River Basin study, the Water Resources Developemnt Act (WRDA) 1986, Section 729 provides a broad authority to study water resource needs of river basins and regions of the United States. USACE Memphis district used this authorization for previous studies of the White River Basin.​​

Q. Why is the White River Basin important?​

A. The White River is a 722-mile river that flows through Arkansas and Missouri. It originates in the Boston Mountains of northwest Arkansas and empties into the Mississippi River near Batesville Arkansas. While much shorter than the Arkansas River, the White carries nearly as much water. With the potential for flows in more than 100,000 cubic feet per minute, the White River has significant flood risk associated with it. Large sections of the White were modified by dam construction and impound several reservoirs for the purpose of flood control, water supply, hydroelectric generation, and recreation. The White runs through several significantly different demographic areas including Northwest Arkansas and Southern Missouri which have seen explosive growth in the past 50 years. Additionally, the southern basin is well known for heavy agriculture and much of the current water control requirements supports farmers efforts in this region.