What Arkansas Conservation Districts Are
Arkansas conservation districts are local units of government that promote locally led conservation of land and water. They are "political subdivisions of the State of Arkansas" that the General Assembly created in 1937, per Hope Prescott. The Encyclopedia of Arkansas notes that Governor Carl E. Bailey signed Act 197 in 1937, making Arkansas the first state to pass such a law, and that Arkansas's district supervisors formed the first state association of its kind in 1938.
How Many Districts
The Arkansas Department of Agriculture says the state has 75 conservation districts, and news reports describe one district for each of the 75 counties. The Encyclopedia of Arkansas counts 76 because Mississippi County is split into two districts. Lines otherwise generally follow county lines. Arkansas reached total coverage on June 2, 1955.
Who Runs a District
Each district is governed by a five-member board of directors. Landowners who live in the district elect three, and the Arkansas Natural Resources Commission appoints two, per the Encyclopedia. Under Act 690 of 2023, the three elected directors now hold the powers the Commission previously had over the two appointed seats, per the Arkadelphian. The Commission is part of the Department of Agriculture's Natural Resources Division, which supports the districts.
Running for Director and Voting
The Commission's Rules Governing Conservation Districts set the process. Rules can be amended, so confirm the current version with the Commission.
- A candidate must own land in the district and be a registered Arkansas voter.
- The nominating petition needs signatures from at least 25 qualified electors, and is due to the Commission by February 10. The Department posts the candidacy and petition forms (CDE-1 and CDE-2).
- A qualified elector is a registered Arkansas voter who owns real estate in the district.
- Elections are held on the first Tuesday in March in the districts designated that year, with polls open 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
- Voters may mark up to three candidates. Write-in votes are void.
- The rules list ballots at the district office two weeks before the election, and voters with health-related difficulties may designate a person to deliver a ballot.
Directors' Duties and Attendance
Each district must hold at least nine monthly meetings a year at a consistent time, with notice under the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act. A director who misses three successive regular monthly meetings without a satisfactory written explanation can be removed for neglect of duty. A director seeking reelection must show attendance at 65 percent of district meetings and three state or area meetings in the past three years, or get a waiver, plus proof of Commission-approved training.
What Districts Do
Per the Encyclopedia of Arkansas, districts hold regular meetings to learn local needs, develop a long-range conservation plan and an annual progress report, and consult with USDA and the Commission. With landowner consent, they can carry out preventive and control measures on public and private land, make equipment and materials available to land users, and help organize irrigation, drainage or watershed districts for dams, levees, ditches and pumping stations. The Arkadelphian reports that districts may also fund scholarships, forestry contests, 4-H programming, pollinator gardens and accessible trails.
Money and Grants
The Arkadelphian reported in June 2024 that the annual conservation district budget is $2.6 million, unchanged since 2007, with more than $1 million going to water quality projects. For fiscal year 2025, about $902,000 remained to divide among the 75 districts, roughly $12,000 each. Districts can also apply to the Conservation District Grant Program, administered with the Commission, per the Department of Agriculture:
- Only conservation districts may apply, and projects must be new or expand current efforts.
- Maximum $25,000 per district per year, for up to two years for the same or similar projects.
- A local cash match of $1 for every $2 in grant funds.
Federal Partners
Under an agreement with the Natural Resources Conservation Service, the federal government provides office space and technology, and the state provides staff to complete reports, per the Arkadelphian. That is why many landowners meet the district and NRCS in the same office.
How to Find and Use Your District
- Open the Arkansas Conservation District Map on the Department of Agriculture's conservation district support page.
- Call the Department's Natural Resources Division at (501) 225-1598, at 1 Natural Resources Dr., Little Rock, AR 72205.
- Attend a monthly meeting. Notice follows the Freedom of Information Act, so meetings are public.
- Bring maps, parcel numbers and photos when you ask about erosion, drainage or water quality.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to own land to vote or run?
Per the Commission rules, a qualified elector is a registered Arkansas voter who owns real estate in the district, and candidates must own land in the district.
How many directors does a district have?
Five. Three are elected by landowners and two are appointed by the Natural Resources Commission.
Is it 75 districts or 76?
The Department of Agriculture says 75. The Encyclopedia of Arkansas says 76 because Mississippi County has two.
Can an individual landowner apply for the district grant?
No. Only conservation districts may apply to the Conservation District Grant Program.
Arkansas Listings Covered by This Guide
- Arkansas Association of Conservation Districts
Statewide association representing the county conservation districts in Arkansas; a partner organization of the state agriculture department.
AR - Arkansas Natural Resources Commission
Adopts, modifies and enforces rules on water conservation, development, management and planning.
AR - Ashley County Conservation District
Local conservation district office in Hamburg serving Ashley County landowners and farmers on soil, water and land stewardship programs. Reach the office at 310 North Cherry or by phone at 870-853-9881.
310 North Cherry, Hamburg, AR 71646 | 870-853-9881 - Carroll County Conservation District
Local conservation district office in Berryville serving Carroll County landowners and farmers on soil, water and land stewardship programs. Reach the office at 909C Freeman Switch Road or by phone at 870-423-2638.
909C Freeman Switch Road, Berryville, AR 72616 | 870-423-2638 - Clay County Conservation District
Local conservation district office in Piggott serving Clay County landowners and farmers on soil, water and land stewardship programs. Reach the office at 168 E. Main Street or by phone at 870-598-2287.
168 E. Main Street, Piggott, AR 72454 | 870-598-2287 - Columbia County Conservation District
Local conservation district office in Magnolia serving Columbia County landowners and farmers on soil, water and land stewardship programs. Reach the office at 100 E. University or by phone at 870-235-5270.
100 E. University, Magnolia, AR 71753 | 870-235-5270 - Conway County Conservation District
Local conservation district office in Morrilton serving Conway County landowners and farmers on soil, water and land stewardship programs. Reach the office at 207 E. Shady Lane or by phone at 501-354-2000.
207 E. Shady Lane, Morrilton, AR 72110 | 501-354-2000 - Crawford County Conservation District
Local conservation district office in Van Buren serving Crawford County landowners and farmers on soil, water and land stewardship programs. Reach the office at 521 Main Street or by phone at 479-474-2281.
521 Main Street, Van Buren, AR 72956 | 479-474-2281 - Desha County Conservation District
Local conservation district office in McGehee serving Desha County landowners and farmers on soil, water and land stewardship programs. Reach the office at 3303 U.S. Hwy. 65 North or by phone at 870-222-4867.
3303 U.S. Hwy. 65 North, McGehee, AR 71654 | 870-222-4867 - Faulkner County Conservation District
Local conservation district office in Conway serving Faulkner County landowners and farmers on soil, water and land stewardship programs. Reach the office at 110 South Amity Road, Room 102 or by phone at 501-327-6509.
110 South Amity Road, Room 102, Conway, AR 72032 | 501-327-6509 - Greene County Conservation District
Local conservation district office in Paragould serving Greene County landowners and farmers on soil, water and land stewardship programs. Reach the office at 206 North Rockingchair Road, Room A or by phone at 870-239-8586.
206 North Rockingchair Road, Room A, Paragould, AR 72450 | 870-239-8586 - Hot Spring County Conservation District
Local conservation district at 220 South Olive St., Suite 1 in Malvern that helps Hot Spring County landowners and farmers with soil, water and land-use conservation programs.
220 South Olive St., Suite 1, Malvern, AR 72104 | 501-337-7381 - Jackson County Conservation District
Local conservation district office in Newport serving Jackson County landowners and farmers on soil, water and land stewardship programs. Reach the office at 2115 Malcolm Ave. or by phone at 870-523-8986.
2115 Malcolm Ave., Newport, AR 72112 | 870-523-8986 - Jefferson County Conservation District
Local conservation district at 800 E. 8th Ave., Room 2114 in Pine Bluff that helps Jefferson County landowners and farmers with soil, water and land-use conservation programs.
800 E. 8th Ave., Room 2114, Pine Bluff, AR 71603 | 870-727-6125 - Lafayette County Conservation District
Local conservation district at 1 Agri-Plex Dr., Suite 1 in Lewisville that helps Lafayette County landowners and farmers with soil, water and land-use conservation programs.
1 Agri-Plex Dr., Suite 1, Lewisville, AR 71845 | 870-921-4865 - Lawrence County Conservation District
Local conservation district at 1100 West Main in Walnut Ridge that helps Lawrence County landowners and farmers with soil, water and land-use conservation programs.
1100 West Main, Walnut Ridge, AR 72476 | 870-886-7791 - Madison County Conservation District
Local conservation district at 479 N. Parrot Dr. in Huntsville that helps Madison County landowners and farmers with soil, water and land-use conservation programs.
479 N. Parrot Dr., Huntsville, AR 72740 | 479-738-6321 - Monroe County Conservation District
Local conservation district at 605 Madison Street in Clarendon that helps Monroe County landowners and farmers with soil, water and land-use conservation programs.
605 Madison Street, Clarendon, AR 72029 | 870-747-3431 - Ouachita Conservation District
Local conservation district office in Camden serving Ouachita County landowners and farmers on soil, water and land stewardship programs. Reach the office at 351 Washington St., Room 218 or by phone at 870-836-2089.
351 Washington St., Room 218, Camden, AR 71701 | 870-836-2089 - Poinsett Conservation District
Local conservation district office in Harrisburg serving Poinsett County landowners and farmers on soil, water and land stewardship programs. Reach the office at 515 Brooks Avenue or by phone at 870-578-2444.
515 Brooks Avenue, Harrisburg, AR 72432 | 870-578-2444 - Pulaski Conservation District
Local conservation district office in North Little Rock serving Pulaski County landowners and farmers on soil, water and land stewardship programs. Reach the office at 4004 McCain Blvd., Suite 201 or by phone at 501-758-2544.
4004 McCain Blvd., Suite 201, North Little Rock, AR 72116 | 501-758-2544 - Randolph County Conservation District
Local conservation district office in Pocahontas serving Randolph County landowners and farmers on soil, water and land stewardship programs. Reach the office at 308 Camp Road or by phone at 870-892-3623.
308 Camp Road, Pocahontas, AR 72455 | 870-892-3623 - Saline County Conservation District
Local conservation district office in Benton serving Saline County landowners and farmers on soil, water and land stewardship programs. Reach the office at 1227 Military Rd., Suite 8 or by phone at 501-778-2251.
1227 Military Rd., Suite 8, Benton, AR 72015 | 501-778-2251 - Sebastian County Conservation District
Local conservation district office in Fort Smith serving Sebastian County landowners and farmers on soil, water and land stewardship programs. Reach the office at 3913 Brooken Hill Drive, Suite 200 or by phone at 479-719-5153.
3913 Brooken Hill Drive, Suite 200, Fort Smith, AR 72908 | 479-719-5153 - UAM College of Forestry, Agriculture and Natural Resources
Monticello college that hosted the Arkansas 4-H WHEP State Contest on its campus.
110 University Court, Monticello, AR 71656 - Washington County Conservation District
Local conservation district office in Fayetteville serving Washington County landowners and farmers on soil, water and land stewardship programs. Reach the office at 2898 Point Circle, #2 or by phone at 479-521-4520.
2898 Point Circle, #2, Fayetteville, AR 72704 | 479-521-4520 - Woodruff County Conservation District
Local conservation district office in Augusta serving Woodruff County landowners and farmers on soil, water and land stewardship programs. Reach the office at 1274 Hwy 64 East or by phone at 870-347-2593.
1274 Hwy 64 East, Augusta, AR 72006 | 870-347-2593
Guide checked Nov. 11, 2026. Rules and dates change; confirm with the organizer.