Abstract
Expansion of Arkansas' population with concurrent increases in the state's domestic, industrial, and agricultural water uses and possible out-of-state diversion are placing substantial demands on the state's water resources. In an attempt to address this growing concern, Act 1051 (1985) of the Arkansas legislature was passed requiring the determination of present and future state water needs. A specific area of this mandate was the quantification of instream flow requirements. Basic instream flow needs are maintenance of the aquatic ecosystem and dependent riparian environment. Flow reservation may compliment other instream uses such as recreation, navigation, water quality, and groundwater recharge. However, offstream uses (e.g. irrigation and industry) may compete for these same flows and often at the most critical time of year. In order to answer questions concerning instream flow requirements, over 40 methods of instream flow determination have been developed, the majority in the semi-arid western United States. These individual procedures may be classified into four major methodologies: (1) discharge, (2) single transect, (3)multiple transect, and (4) regression analysis of historical data. Requirements of these four types vary according to necessary level of expertise, time and effort expended, and monetary outlay. In one year, requests for fish and wildlife instream flow needs for approximately 60 stream reaches throughout Arkansas limited the possible options. Modification and further development of a well-known method is outlined as an initial step in the process of quantifying Arkansas' instream flow needs. Examples are given for some of the major river basins throughout the state.
Recommended Citation
Filipek, Stephen P.; Keith, William E.; and Giese, John
(1987)
"Status of the Instream Flow Issue in Arkansas, 1987,"
Journal of the Arkansas Academy of Science: Vol. 41, Article 14.
Available at:
https://scholarworks.uark.edu/jaas/vol41/iss1/14
