Governor Creates Levee Task Force

AAC COVER STORY Governor creates Arkansas Levee Task Force

Photo by Holland Doran AAC Communications Coordinator

Governor Asa Hutchinson issued Executive Order 19-10 on June 27, to create the Arkansas Levee Task Force.

In a news release, the governor cited “record flooding that impacted a number of communities along the Arkansas River, causing extensive damage.” Severe storms and flooding began in Conway, Crawford, Faulkner, Jefferson, Perry, Pulaski, Sebastian and Yell counties on May 21 through June 14, according to the Arkansas Department of Workforce Development. A total of 17 counties were affected.

“Several levees were impacted, as a result, including the breach of the Holla Bend Levee in Yell County,” the Governor said in his June 27 news release.

He also announced he will request legislative approval for $10 million to be made available through the Arkansas Department of Emergency Management, in consultation with the Arkansas Natural Resources Commission, for immediate levee repair.

“The flood of 2019 revealed the many weaknesses in our state’s system of levees and points to the urgent need to formulate a plan to coordinate inspection and maintenance in cooperation with the Corps of Engineers and the local levee boards,” the Governor said in his news release. “We can’t postpone this planning until another historic flood puts us to a test. The Arkansans who live and work along our waterways depend on our leaders to secure their safety as much as humanly possible by ensuring we incorporate the best practices and technology to fortify our levees.”

On July 8, the Governor announced the following members of the task force: • Secretary of the Department of Public Safety Jami Cook, chairman • Arkansas Commissioner of State Lands Tommy Land • Secretary of the Department of Agriculture Wes Ward • Secretary of the Department of Finance and Administration Larry Walther • Director of the Arkansas Natural Resources Commission Bruce Holland • Director of the Arkansas Department of Emergency Management A.J. Gary • Director of the Arkansas Waterways Commission Deidre Smith • Director of the Geographic Information Office Shelby Johnson • Sen. Jason Rapert • Sen. Gary Stubblefield • Rep. Mary Bentley • Rep. David Hillman • Yell County Judge Mark Thone • Jackson County Judge Jeff Phillips • Chicot County Judge Mack Ball • Pope County Clerk Pam Ennis • Dardanelle Mayor Jimmy Witt • Pine Bluff Mayor Shirley Washington • St. Francis Levee Board Member Rob Rash • Mike Lowe, representing Miller County • Tim Ralston, representing Pope and Conway counties • Marty Shell, representing Sebastian and Crawford counties • Farm Bureau Engineer Evan Teague • Pulaski County Engineer Tommy Bond • Pulaski County Attorney Hal Kemp The task force will study and analyze the condition of the state’s levees. It also will identify sources and requirements for funding the construction, repair, and maintenance of levees; and review adequacy of current laws and organizational structure of the levee system and levee district boards. Gov. Asa Hutchinson (middle) announces on June 27, the creation of the Arkansas Levee Task Force. Standing alongside him are, from left to right, Rep. Mary Bentley, Sen. Jason Rapert, Sen. Mark Johnson, and Rep. David Hillman.