Geoscience in Your State: Arkansas

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Cover of Geoscience Policy State Factsheet. Image credit: AGI

By the numbers: Arkansas

  • 1,571 geoscience employees (excludes self-employed)1
  • 9.59 billion gallons/day: total groundwater withdrawal3
  • $771 million: value of nonfuel mineral production in 20174
  • 70 total disaster declarations, including 28 severe storm, 17 flood, and 15 tornado disasters (1953-2017)6
  • $184,000: NSF GEO grants awarded in 201714...

Agencies Working on Geoscience Issues in arkansas

Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality

The Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) is the state's main environmental protection agency, charged with protecting, enhancing, and restoring the environment for Arkansans.

Arkansas Energy Office

The mission of the Arkansas Energy Office is to promote energy efficiency, clean technology and sustainable strategies that encourage economic development, energy security and the environmental well-being for all citizens of Arkansas.

Arkansas Geological Survey

The mission of the Arkansas Geological Survey is to serve the people of Arkansas by providing geological information in order to develop and enable effective management of the State’s mineral, fossil fuel and water resources while protecting the environment.

Arkansas Natural Resources Commission

The Arkansas Natural Resources Commission establishes policy and makes funding and regulatory decisions relative to soil conservation, nutrient management, water rights, dam safety and water resources planning and development.

Case Studies & Factsheets

Cover of AGI Factsheet 2018-004 - Present Day Climate Change

Climate Science 101 Climate is the average of weather conditions over several decades.1,2 Geoscientists monitor modern climate conditions (1880 A.D. to present) in part by taking direct measurements of weather data (i.e., air temperature, rainfall and snowfall, wind speed, cloudiness, and so on)...

Cover of Groundwater Protection in Oil and Gas Production

Introduction The United States relies on groundwater for roughly 25% of its fresh water.1 This groundwater is found in porous, permeable rocks (aquifers) that often lie close to the Earth’s surface – the deepest freshwater aquifers are found more than 6,000 feet underground,2 but most are much...

CI_Factsheet_2017_5_drywellprograms_170906_thumb.JPG

Introduction Dry wells improve stormwater drainage and aquifer recharge by providing a fast, direct route for rainwater to drain deep into underlying sediment and rock. Dry wells are most common in the western U.S. where clay or caliche layers slow down the natural drainage of water into underlying...

CI_Factsheet_2018_1_NewMadrid_180226_thumb.JPG

Earthquakes in the New Madrid Fault Zone The New Madrid fault zone (NMFZ) is a long-established weakness in the Earth’s crust in the central and eastern US where earthquakes have occurred for hundreds of millions of years. In 1811-1812, three large earthquakes (up to magnitude 7.5) caused severe...

Cover of Induced Seismicity from Oil and Gas Operations

Manmade Earthquakes Any activity that significantly changes the pressure on or fluid content of rocks has the potential to trigger earthquakes. This includes geothermal energy production, water storage in large reservoirs, groundwater extraction, underground injection of water for enhanced oil...

CI_Factsheet_2017_2_groundwater_170309_thumb.JPG

Fresh water from underground Groundwater is any water found underground in the cracks and pores in soil, sand, or rock. Groundwater provides 25% of the fresh water used in the United States.1 It is particularly important for irrigation and domestic uses in arid or remote areas, where surface water...

Cover of Geoscience Policy State Factsheet. Image credit: AGI

By the numbers: Arkansas 1,571 geoscience employees (excludes self-employed)1 9.59 billion gallons/day: total groundwater withdrawal3 $771 million: value of nonfuel mineral production in 20174 70 total disaster declarations, including 28 severe storm, 17 flood, and 15 tornado disasters (1953-...