Sanders announces review of Arkansas levees

LITTLE ROCK —Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the Commissioner of State Lands to conduct a statewide levee inventory. As part of the Governor’s larger review of Arkansas’ State Water Plan, this project will result in the state’s first-ever full inventory of levees and will allow the state to better prepare for flooding events and reduce flood risk to people, businesses, and critical infrastructure.
“Arkansas’ levees provide critical protection to communities across our state. But we can’t make improvements and repairs to our levee system if we don’t have a comprehensive inventory of our existing facilities. I’m proud to partner with Commissioner Land to launch this review and improve protection for Arkansans in flood-prone areas,” said Governor Sanders.
“As Commissioner of State Lands and member of the 2019 Arkansas Levee Task Force, I have seen first-hand the importance of our levee system and what happens when those systems fail. It is vital for us to have an up-to-date view of our current levee system so they may be properly maintained and we will be prepared for potential disasters. I am committed to protecting the property of Arkansas citizens and am proud to be involved in this monumental project,” said Arkansas Commissioner of State Lands Tommy Land.
“We are thankful for the Governor’s leadership in helping move the state toward a long-overdue comprehensive levee inventory. The Governor’s Executive Order regarding the Water Plan and this levee inventory are critical steps in making sure Arkansas is prepared for future natural disasters and avoiding the devastating impacts that they cause,” said Arkansas Secretary of Agriculture Wes Ward.

Governor Sanders signed Executive Order 23-27 in August 2023 to conduct a comprehensive analysis and report of Arkansas’s water needs and update the Arkansas Water Plan, which included the directive to conduct a structural analysis of flood mitigation infrastructure and proposed solutions.
The MOA authorizes the Arkansas Department of Agriculture to work with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) on the project that will be initiated through a Planning Assistance to States (PAS) agreement. Under the PAS agreement, project costs are shared between the State and USACE. State Lands Commissioner Land has agreed to provide up to $250,000 as the state’s portion of the project cost.
Many non-federal levees within the state are not in the USACE Levee Safety Program and are not currently eligible for assistance in the event of a levee breach. This project will focus on confirming the number and status of all levees in the state which will then allow state and local leaders to provide better maintenance of levee systems and prepare for future natural disasters.