Climate change in Arkansas

The southeast region of the state has experienced a 27% increase in precipitation during heavy rainstorms since 1958, and this trend is expected to continue.

During droughts, the Corps of Engineers releases water from dams to maintain navigation on the Arkansas River, where barges carry freight worth more than $4 billion during a typical year.

[1] The Corps of Engineers tries to keep channels at least nine feet deep,[4] as low water levels increase transportation costs by forcing boats to carry smaller loads.

Increased drought severity is expected to exacerbate this problem, potentially affecting shipping on the Mississippi River.

[5][6] According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, changing the atmosphere may have both harmful and beneficial effects on farming.

[8] They note that longer growing seasons and increased carbon dioxide concentrations could more than offset the losses from those factors.