Arkansas Black Mayors Association (ABMA) will announce the final selection of project planning consultants for $95.5 million urban watershed improvements to address flooding in 14 project areas across Eastern, Southeastern, Southern, and Southwestern Arkansas, and plans for community input this summer, on Mon., May 22, 2023, at 11 a.m. in the courtyard between the Federal Courthouse, 500 W. Capitol Ave., and the Federal Building, 700 W. Capitol Ave., in Little Rock, AR 72201.
On May 1, eight planning consultants submitted proposals to the ABMA formal request for proposals to develop these watershed plans. From May 3 to 5, the ABMA conducted a planning proposal selection working group, where the organization met with architectural and engineering firms to review and recommend their watershed project areas proposals to the ABMA Executive Board.
The United States Department of Agriculture's National Resources Conservation Service award is a first-of-its-kind grant to fund planning and implementation for urban watershed projects. It historically has funded rural projects.
These areas, comprised of cities, their surrounding communities, and watersheds,Camden
Freeo Creek – Ouachita River Watershed
North Bayou – Two Bayou Watershed