By Fred Miller
U of A System Division of Agriculture

Media Contact: Ryan 501-671-2120

May 5, 2017

NWArkansas assesses flood aftermath, recovery

Fast Facts:

  • April 29 rainfall totals topped 10 inches in some areas of northwest Arkansas.
  • Flood waters damaged ponds and fences and deposited debris on area farms.
  • Receding waters left behind eroded trenches, rocks and debris.

(610 words)

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FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. —Heavy rain caused heavy floods in northwest Arkansas on April 29 in large part because there was no where else for all that water to go.

Colin Massey, Washington County agent for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, said the ground was already saturated from earlier rains, leaving no capacity to absorb any of the rains on Saturday.

“It’s like it was falling on concrete,” Massey said. “It couldn’t do anything but run off.”

Brian Haggard, Division of Agriculture biological and agricultural engineer and director of the Arkansas Water Resources Center, said more than 14 inches of water fell in the month of April. Water flowing from White River into Beaver Lake peaked at about 30,000 cubic feet of water per second on two days just three days apart on April 27 and 30.

“That’s just an extremely wet period,” Haggard said. “That’s about 25 percent of Fayetteville’s total annual rainfall in just one month.”

The National Weather Service at Tulsa reported more than 10 inches of rain fellovernight — April 28-29 — in parts of Benton and Washington counties. Floodwater clogged storm drains with debris, sending even more water into places it normally wouldn’t go, Massey said.

Massey said a lot of the impact from the floodwaters is erosion. “There was sheet erosion from hillsides, eroded trenches and a lot of soil washed off of construction sites,” he said.

As floodwater recedes from northwest Arkansas, landowners are taking stock of what was left behind.

Ted Collins, Washington county executive directorfor the USDA Farm Service Agency, said floodwater tore down fences and breached ponds on many farms. “The water also left behind debris, trash and rocks that have to be cleaned up,” he said.

The Washington County FSA Service Center, which also serves Benton County, is applying for USDA Emergency Conservation Program funds to help restore storm damaged lands and prepare for future storms.

BerniKurz, Washington County extension staff chair for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, echoed Collins’ assessment of farm damage. His own farm, like many others in the area, suffered downed fences and a breached pond.

“I had 9.75 inches on my farm outside of Fayetteville,” Kurz said. “My farm ponds overflowed hard.’

Kurz said some areas are still unaccessable and he hasn’t been able to assess all the damage. One pond, designed to control excess rainwater, overflowed and sent water downstream toward roads and homes. He found considerable erosion on the dam side of the pond that he expects will require repair.

Kurz has observed damage in several areas of the county, including to homes in the Illinois River basin. “Erosion in riparian areas of some fields carved out big trenches,” he said. “And folks along the Illinoise River — wow!”

The Division of Agriculture’s Arkansas Agricultural Research and Extension Center in Fayetteville recorded 9.5 inches of rain, said center director Vaughn Skinner. Agri Park was flooded where it borders Garland Avenue and several research plots were also flooded.

“Most of the water ran off pretty quickly,” Skinner said. As it went, the water damaged field roads and drain culverts that will have to be repaired.

The center’s Savoy unit, 12 miles west of Fayetteville, also had some damage to fences and forest roads, Skinner said.

Haggard said a rain event like the one in April is difficult to prepare for. Climate change projections, he said, suggest more extreme weather patterns with episodic cycles of heavy rain and drought could become more common.

Low impact development that takes water flow into account and best management practices on fields and pastures can help mitigate damage and losses from floods, Haggard said.

The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture offers all its Extension and Research programs to all eligible persons without regard to race, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, religion, age, disability, marital or veteran status, genetic information, or any other legally protected status, and is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer.

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