2011 Annual Report - Agricultural Water Enhancement Program

Two Agricultural Water Enhancement Program (AWEP) projects received funding in 2011 in Arkansas.

The White River Irrigation District AWEP project is designed to conserve surface and ground water and improve pumping efficiency.

The project, managed by NRCS and the White River Irrigation District, allows producers to install fuel and water monitoring equipment on an estimated 300 wells or re-lifts. The project boundary includes all or portions of Arkansas, Clay, Conway, Craighead, Crittenden, Cross, Faulkner, Greene, Jackson, Jefferson, Lee, Lonoke, Mississippi, Monroe, Perry, Poinsett, Pope, Prairie, Pulaski, St. Francis, Van Buren, Woodruff and Yell counties.

The Little Red River Irrigation District AWEP project addresses water quantity and quality concerns in the Little Red River Watershed in White County.

The project area encompasses approximately 83,838 acres southeast of Searcy containing approximately 34,000 acres of irrigated cropland. The area has been designated as a critical ground water use area by the Arkansas Natural Resources Commission. The project area is approximately 14 miles in length and averages about 10 miles in width.