Recap of the 2025 Arkansas Agriculture, Forests, and Water Conference
The Arkansas Water Resources Center hosted another successful Agriculture, Forests, and Water Conference from July 22-24, 2025. This year’s theme, “Building Resilience through Sound Science and Practice,” brought together researchers, students, natural resource professionals, and community members from across the state to share knowledge and solutions for the state’s most pressing environmental challenges.
Over three days, the conference showcased the full spectrum of water-related work happening in Arkansas, from cutting-edge laboratory research to hands-on conservation efforts in our communities. Attendees had the opportunity to learn from expert presentations, view research posters, and connect with others who share a passion for protecting the state’s natural resources.
Day One: Understanding Water Pollution Through Science
The conference opened with technical research on emerging water issues, including studies on PFAS contamination and harmful algal blooms. High school student Kira Burnett from the Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences, and the Arts, now a first-year student at the University of Arkansas, presented her research on Hot Springs Creek.
Burnett’s work examined how pollution from urbanization affects Hot Springs Creek, a tributary of the Ouachita River. She found that phosphorus levels were high, likely resulting in excessive algae growth that depletes the oxygen needed by fish and other organisms. Her research showed that phosphorus travels far enough to reach the Ouachita River and that pollution-sensitive insects have largely disappeared from the creek, replaced by species that tolerate dirty water.
“As a young researcher, speaking at the 2025 Arkansas Agriculture, Forests, and Water Conference inspired my confidence and connected me to incredible resources throughout the state,” Burnett said. “I never felt out of place because of the welcoming attendees and the wonderful AWRC staff. I would recommend attending for anyone interested in being at the forefront of preserving natural resources in Arkansas.”
Day Two: Protecting Water Resources
The second day shifted focus to practical solutions for protecting Arkansas’s water resources. Kevin McGaughey from the Arkansas Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Division presented an update on the Arkansas Unpaved Roads Program, affectionately titled “Country Roads, Take Me Home.”
Unpaved roads are significant contributors of sediment into Arkansas waterways, but counties that maintain most of these roads struggle to keep up as maintenance costs skyrocket and aging infrastructure faces more frequent extreme weather events. The Arkansas Unpaved Roads Program addresses this challenge by providing education on environmentally sensitive road maintenance and offering matching grants to implement best management practices.
“I love this program because it is such a win-win for all involved,” McGaughey said. “These voluntary projects help improve water quality, stretch county tax dollars and resources farther, and many times, it improves public safety on these roads as well.”
Day Three: Giving Our Rivers a Voice
The final day featured a session on River Conservation Recreation Partnership Planning, moderated by Darrell Bowman, Recreation and Access Coordinator for the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission. The session addressed the critical issue of most Arkansas rivers being considered non-navigable because they flow through private land, leaving them without clear management plans for public access to water and fish that belong to all Arkansans.
The panel showcased successful partnership models from across the state, including work on the Illinois River, Upper Saline River, and West Fork of the White River. A speaker from Tennessee also shared their “Tennessee Blueways” program, offering ideas Arkansas could adopt for balancing outdoor recreation growth with landowner rights, and conservation.
“The conference focused on water, the most important thing to Arkansas’, people and fish, and provided the best forum to talk about the need for more attention to conservation recreation partnership planning and programming for our rivers in Arkansas,” Bowman said. “The message really resonated with the attendees, and we left the session with great energy and enthusiasm to continue this effort.”
Looking Forward
From microscopic analysis of water contaminants to landscape-scale river management plans, the 2025 conference showcased the depth of work being done to protect the state’s natural resources. The three-day conference demonstrated how scientific research informs practical solutions and how these solutions ultimately benefit communities across Arkansas.
The Arkansas Water Resources Center thanks all presenters, poster participants, sponsors, and attendees who made this year’s conference a success.
