MEMPHIS, Tenn. -- The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Memphis District marked three major infrastructure milestones in eastern Arkansas yesterday, Mar. 3, 2026.
The events included groundbreaking ceremonies for the Grand Prairie Region Project and the Bayou Meto Basin Project and a ribbon-cutting to celebrate the successful installation of three new gearboxes at Graham Burke Pumping Station.
All three achievements reflect significant advances in safeguarding Arkansas's water resources and the communities that rely on these critical water supplies.
The Grand Prairie and Bayou Meto Basin projects share the common goal of lowering long-term water depletion of the Alluvial and Sparta Aquifers, both being crucial water resources relied upon by farmers, municipalities, and industries in eastern Arkansas.
After decades of concentrated agricultural irrigation, these aquifers have been drained to critically low levels, threatening the region's economy and long-term water security.
Each project is designed to redirect surface water from the White River and distribute it through large-scale delivery systems to farmers across a number of counties. By offering a reliable, surface water alternative, both projects aim to reduce demands on the aquifers, stabilize groundwater, and support the region's agricultural and economic stability.
The Grand Prairie Project will serve about 250,000 acres across Arkansas, including Lonoke, Monroe, and Prairie counties, through a network of pumps, pipelines, and distribution systems to deliver supplemental irrigation water.
Without action however, studies show significant losses in irrigated land and farm revenue as groundwater supplies continue to decline.
The Bayou Meto Basin Project will serve parts of Prairie, Arkansas, Lonoke, Jefferson, and Pulaski counties by constructing a large-scale water distribution system to deliver additional surface water, helping lower dependence on declining groundwater resources and further protect the farming economy for future generations.
The Memphis District also inaugurated the Graham Burke Pumping Station near Mellwood, Arkansas, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony, marking the successful installation of three new gearboxes, officially restoring the pump station to its full operational capacity well ahead of flood season.
This facility plays a vital role in flood protection along the White River Levee and Drainage District, safeguarding over 150,000 acres from flooding.
About the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Memphis District
The Memphis District is one of 41 districts in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. We are part of the Mississippi Valley Division. The Memphis District, along with the Vicksburg, New Orleans, St. Paul, Rock Island and St. Louis Districts fall under the division’s jurisdiction. The Division Headquarters is in Vicksburg, Mississippi.
The district covers a 25,000 square mile area. We serve customers in portions of Tennessee, Mississippi, Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois and Kentucky. Our customers also include 100 flood control districts, water resource and wildlife agencies from six states, four Port Commissions, the Lower Mississippi Valley Flood Control Association as well as eight Congressional Districts and 12 Senators.
We are responsible for maintaining and improving 355 miles of the Mississippi River main channel from Cairo, Illinois, to the mouth of the White River. We also maintain over 640 miles of mainline levees along the Mississippi River and its tributaries, 10 inland harbors and 255 miles of navigation channel on the White River in Arkansas.
We are housed in several locations throughout our vast district. The district headquarters is located in the Ordell Horton Federal Building in the heart of downtown Memphis. We also have a marine maintenance, engineering and mooring facility at Ensley Engineer Yard, and field offices in Caruthersville, Missouri, Arkansas, and Wynne, Arkansas.