SB536 Summary

• Establishes the Buffalo River Conservation Committee as a statutory body to create measurable objectives and lead partnership projects for water quality and resource management in the Buffalo River Watershed.

• Committee composition includes the Secretaries of Energy and Environment, Agriculture, Parks/Heritage/Tourism, and Health; plus the county judges of Newton and Searcy counties, all appointed by and serving at the pleasure of the Governor.

• Committee shall conduct annual reviews of the Buffalo River Watershed Management Plan, establish subcommittees to implement the plan, and submit annual reports with recommendations and successes to the Governor.

• Committee must engage key stakeholders including local landowners, conservation organizations, environmental experts, tourism industry representatives, local and county officials, and federal partners in subcommittee work.

• Bill recognizes the Buffalo National River as America's first national river and cites the prior 2016 Beautiful Buffalo River Action Committee's development of a watershed management plan as the foundation for this permanent committee structure.