It is estimated that Arkansas originally had 9.8 million acres of wetlands, representing almost 30% of the total surface area of the state. By the mid 1980's the number of wetlands had dropped to 2.8 million acres (72% loss) representing only 8% of the surface area (Dahl 1990). The delta region of Arkansas experienced the greatest losses, and now has approximately 875,000 acres of forested wetlands remaining of the original 8 million acres. This 89% loss is greater than any other Delta state. Arkansas has lost more wetland acres than any other inland state in the nation (Dahl 1990).

Arkansas Wetlands circa 1870

Arkansas Wetlands Today

Wetland losses in Arkansas began as the United States frontier expanded west, and people arrived to carve out a homestead in the wilderness. These early settlers encountered vast forests intermingled with rivers and swamps. Efforts to tame the flooded wilderness were daunting. Congress recognized that protection from floods and improved drainage were prerequisites to settlement of the lowlands, and passed the Swamp Land Acts in 1849 and 1850. These acts transferred over 7.5 million acres of public swamplands to the state of Arkansas, which sold the lands for pennies to encourage landowners to undertake the task of developing the land. In addition, the state and federal governments increased their roles in flood protection and drainage activities. By 1920, 3.5 million acres of Delta lands were in organized drainage districts, which contributed tremendously toward making the Delta one of the most productive agricultural regions in the nation. During much of this same period the timber industry thrived in Arkansas. Most of the virgin timber in Arkansas was cut by 1920. While harvesting trees from a forested wetland does not diminish all wildlife values and flood control functions, these functions are significantly diminished in large clear-cut tracks.

By 1937, the wetland area of the state was reduced to 4.9 million acres. After World War II, the rate of wetland loss increased due to the availability of mechanized equipment. Between 1957 and 1967 approximately 37% of the remaining wetlands were lost; many small tracts of timber were cleared to plant soybeans. The rate of loss dropped to approximately 14% between 1977 to 1985. The rate of clearing has slowed over the last decade because of deferred production on wet sites, changing market conditions, wetland regulations (Section 404 of the Clean Water Act and swampbuster provision under the Food Security Act), incentive programs, and greater public interest and support for wetland conservation. National Wetland Inventory (NWI) data for the 1970's-1980's indicated that 54% of the wetland conversion during that period was due to agriculture. Natural Resource Inventory (NRI) data for 1982-92 shows that the rate of wetland loss was down by nearly half nationally and that agriculture was responsible for only 20% of the wetland losses in that decade. NWI data for 1986-1997 indicates that the national rate of wetland loss has been reduced by 80% compared with the previous decade, although the rate in the in the southeast U.S. is still higher than the national average.

Part of the reason wetland conversion has slowed over the last decade is landowners participating in wetland conservation incentive programs, such as Wetland Reserve Program (WRP), Partners For Wildlife, and Arkansas Partners Program (AGFC and DU). In response to these incentives, landowners are in the process of restoring and protecting more than 100,000 acres of wetlands: more than 92,000 acres through WRP, 15,000 acres through Partners For Wildlife. In addition, water control structures have been provided by the Arkansas Partners Program to landowners to flood more than 36,000 acres of rice and soybean fields through the winter duck migration months. NRI data for Arkansas shows there were 3.8742 million acres of wetlands in 1982 and 3.9010 million acres in 1992. This is an increase of 26,800 acres of wetlands in Arkansas. This increase can be attributed to an increase in lacustrine (lake) wetlands, which include created, open water such as irrigation reservoirs and aquaculture ponds. The NRI data indicates a 3,700-acre reduction in palustrine (vegetated and not associated with a river, lake, or shoreline) wetlands that are native to Arkansas from 1982-92. In addition, the Fish and Wildlife Service reports that conversion of palustrine forested wetlands to palustrine shrub-scrub is continuing.

Although wetland losses appear to continue in Arkansas, there has been a significant reduction in the rate of conversion when compared to previous decades. Landowners are choosing for various reasons to defer wetland conversion and restore marginal cropland and riparian areas. With continued landowner and agency cooperation, the state of Arkansas can attain the national goal of "no net loss" of wetlands and long term net gain.

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