MONROE COUNTY, ARKANSAS
AQUATIC ECOSYSTEM RESTORATION
SECTION 1135, WATER DEVELOPMENT RESOURCES ACT OF 1996

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Memphis District, is studying the feasibility of restoring water flow to the meanders in the lower seven miles of the river, located immediately north of Clarendon, Arkansas. The project area begins slightly upstream of the White River National Wildlife Refuge and continues downstream on the Cache River to the outlet into the White River. The Nature Conservancy is the likely sponsor for implementation of the project. Arkansas Game and Fish Commission and Ducks Unlimited have also been involved since 2005 when the project study began.

These meanders were blocked during construction of an authorized flood control project initiated in 1972. This flood control project changed a meandering river ecosystem into a straightened main channel and a series of pools (isolated meanders) with standing water. The flood control project was halted as a result of legal action because of environmental opposition.

The restoration of flow to these meanders would restore the hydrologic regime in some areas to the historic condition and create habitat suitable for riverine species of fish, freshwater mussels, and other aquatic organisms.

A Public Notice and Environmental Assessment have been prepared and are available on this website. The Detailed Project Report is also available here.

The Public Comment period for this project ended on January 10, 2010.