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The Arkansas Department of Agriculture announced in a November 7th news release that its Natural Resources Division (“NRD”) has been approved for a Federal Emergency Management Agency (“FEMA”) Rehabilitation of High Hazard Potential Dam Grant.

The grant amount is $226,803.

The Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation Act (i.e., WIIN act) which was enacted in 2016 added a new grant program under FEMA’s National Dam Safety Program. Section 5006 of the Act provides technical, planning, design and construction assistance in the form of grants for rehabilitation of eligible high hazard potential dams.

High hazard potential is a classification standard for any dam whose failure or missed-operation will cause loss of human life and significant property destruction. FEMA allocated $22 million in grant funding in fiscal year 2022 to continue the program. This included $11 million from the bipartisan Infrastructure Law. $11.64 million is available for planning and design activities and $10.6 million is targeted for construction-ready activities only.

NRD Director Chris Colclasure is quoted in the news release as stating:

This funding will better allow cities and communities to institute plans and strategies for dam rehabilitation while focusing on the safety of Arkansas.

A copy of the news release can be downloaded here.