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The Natural Resources Commission of the Arkansas Department of Agriculture (“NRC”) issued a news release identifying nine projects that will receive a total of $558,756.00 in funding through the Arkansas Unpaved Roads Program (“AURP”).
The projects receiving funding in 2024 are identified as follows:
- Arkansas County, Eldridge Road Project
- Independence County, Big Creek Road Project
- Lincoln County, Longview Road Project
- Pope County, Silex Road Project
- Scott County, Dooley Road Project
- Sevier County, Allen Road Project
- Van Buren County, Brickey Road Project
- Yell County, Buckman Road
The AURP program was enacted through Act 898 in 2015 during the 90th Arkansas General Assembly. The program is operated through the NRC. The objective of the grant program is to address adverse effects associated with unpaved roads such as:
- Fill in gravel stream beds.
- Loss of instream habitat for game and non-game fish and other aquatic species.
- Requiring additional expensive treatment to utilize freshwater sources for drinking water.
- Loss of lake capacity.
- Expense associated with eroding unpaved roads.
- High levels of road dust.
Funding is intended to enable the use of best management practices to reduce erosion in sedimentation by:
- Providing better drainage to the road system.
- Stabilizing erodible ditches and drainage outlets.
- Creating a more durable driving surface.
- Enhance training for road maintenance professionals.
- Conduct demonstrations of new and innovative techniques of dirt and gravel road construction.
The AURP coordinates federal, state, and private funding and project proposals are reviewed by an advisory committee to prioritize limited funds. Preference is stated to be given first to proposed projects in priority watersheds addressing endangered species, drinking water sources, and other important characteristics.
A copy of the news release can be downloaded here.
