SUMMARY OF REPORTED

AGRICULTURE AND IRRIGATION

WATER USE IN POINSETT COUNTY,

ARKANSAS, 1991

U.S. Department of the Interior

U.S. Geological Survey

Open-File Report 93-487

Prepared in cooperation with the Arkansas 

Soil and Water Conservation Commission
SUMMARY OF REPORTED AGRICULTURE

AND IRRIGATION WATER USE IN 

POINSETT COUNTY, ARKANSAS, 1991

By Terrance W. Holland1 , Carolyn A. Manning^ 

and Kenneth L. Stafford1

Water is one of Arkansas' most valuable resources. Site-specific 

water-use data for several categories are collected and compiled 

annually by the Arkansas Soil and Water Conservation 

Commission (ASWCC) in cooperation with the U.S. Geological 

Survey. Data for the agriculture (non-irrigation) and irrigation 

categories are reported through the Conservation District Offices 

in each county.

This report summarizes the 1991 water-use reporting through 

the Conservation District Office in Poinsett County, Arkansas. 

The number of withdrawal registrations for Poinsett County was 

1,826 (1,644 ground water and 182 surface water). Water 

withdrawals reported during the registration process total 15.12 

million gallons per day (Mgal/d) (11.76 Mgal/d ground water and 

3.36 Mgal/d surface water) for agriculture and 443.50 Mgal/d 

(394.22 Mgal/d ground water and 4928 Mgal/d surface water) for 

irrigation.

Of the total amount of water withdrawn (458.62 Mgal/d), 

505,361 acre-feet per year (451.21 Mgal/d) can be accounted for 

by application type (table 1). The registration reports for 1991 

indicate that this water was applied to 244,505 acres of land to 

irrigate rice, corn, soybeans, milo, cotton, and hay as well as for 

the agricultural uses of animal aquaculture and ducks. There is a 

difference between total amount of water withdrawn and the 

reported quantity of water applied for agriculture and irrigation 

(7.41 Mgal/d) because some water is diverted to holding 

reservoirs, and because crop type or acreage delineation are 

incomplete on some reporting forms.

Water-use data collected in Poinsett County are used in various 

State/Federal/Cooperative projects. The objectives of these 

projects are to enhance the water-resources knowledge base and 

to provide water managers with the best possible information to 

help ensure that water of suitable quality continues to be available 

in sufficient quantities to meet water demands. Current projects 

include: the Eastern Arkansas Optimization modeling project and 

the National Water Use Information Program.

1 U.S. Geological Survey

2 Arkansas Soil and Water Conservation Commission
Ground- and surface-water withdrawal 

locations in Poinsett County, Arkansas, 1991

Ground-water withdrawal locations are 

represented by a "+".

Surface-water withdrawal locations are 

represented by a "A".
Percentage of ground- (GW) and surface-water (SW) 

withdrawals for the agriculture (non-irrigation) wateruse category in Poinsett County, Arkansas, 1991 (in 

million gallons per day)

Percentage of ground- (GW) and surface-water (SW) 

withdrawals for the irrigation water-use category in 

Poinsett County, Arkansas, 1991 (in million gallons 

per day)
Table 1.-- Application statistics for agriculture (non-irrigation) and irrigation in Poinsett County, Arkansa

[Application rate statistics are displayed in acre-feet; ***, cannot be calculated]

Crop

Rice

Com

Soybeans

Milo

Cotton

Hay

Animal aquaculture

Ducks

Totals

Number of 

reported

applications

1,423

29

1,215

45

208

1

59

11

2,991

Sum 

of

acres

112,129.48

1,826.00

103,621.59

2,750.00

20,298.50

16.00

2,388.00

1,475.00

244,504.57

Average

3.01

1.05

1.17

1.28

1.45

1.00

4.68

1.91

***

Minimum

0.50

.50

.00

.49

.00

1.00

1.00

.00

***

25th

percentile

3.00

1.00

1.00

1.00

.50

***

4.00

1.00

***

50th

percentile

3.00

1.00

1.00

1.00

1.00

***

5.00

1.00

***

75th

percentile

3.00

1.00

1.00

2.00

2.00

***

5.00

2.50

***

Maximum

30.00

2.00

7.75

2.00

15.00

1.00

8.47

5.00

***

Varian

0.5

.1

.3

.2

2.0

***

1.3

3.0

***
Water-Use Reporting

The information contained in this report was developed through a 

jointly-funded program with the Arkansas Soil and Water 

Conservation Commission to collect water-use data in Arkansas. 

The role of the U.S. Geological Survey is to compile and interpret 

these data. Inquires regarding additional water-resources 

information may be directed to:

District Chief 

U.S. Geological Survey 

2301 Federal Office Building 

700 West Capitol Avenue 

Little Rock, Arkansas 72201

In addition to the jointly-funded program to acquire water-use 

information, the Arkansas Soil and Water Conservation 

Commission has the responsibilities for water-use reporting under 

State law.

Act 81 of 1957, as amended, requires all diverters of water from 

streams, lakes, or ponds to register their diversion of surface water 

by quantity, location, type of use, and name of user on an annual 

basis with the ASWCC. The ASWCC is required to furnish each 

registrant a Certificate of Registration. The ASWCC utilizes these 

registrations for the allocation of water and as a basis for 

determining the State's overall water usage and water needs for 

inclusion in the Arkansas Water Plan.

Act 1051 of 1985 requires all users of ground water, excluding 

domestic use and wells having a maximum potential flow of less 

than 50,000 gallons per day, to register their withdrawal of ground 

water. The quantity, location, type of use, and name of user must be 

registered on an annual basis with the ASWCC or their local 

conservation district
Act 154 of 1991 provides the ASWCC the authority to develop a 

comprehensive ground-water protection program, designate critical 

ground-water areas, cost-share on installation of water conservation 

practices, establish ground-water rights within critical areas, 

establish fees for ground- and surface-water withdrawals, develop 

an education and information program, and delegate management 

powers to regional water districts and conservation districts. The 

intent of this program is to protect ground water for the future. The 

act also establishes as State policy, that if reductions in well 

pumpage are necessary, it is most desirable that the reductions come 

from conservation programs and the utilization of surface water. 

However, if necessary, the ASWCC may limit ground-water 

withdrawals through the issuance of water rights in critical groundwater areas.

Inquiries regarding additional information pertaining to State water 

law should be directed to:

Executive Director

Arkansas Soil and Water Conservation Commission

101 East Capitol Avenue, Suite 350

Little Rock, Arkansas 72201

There are several important facts that should be 

noted in reference to Act 154 of 1991:

1. The effective date of this act is October 1,1992.

2. The act provides for the assessment of annual water-use fees in 

the amount of $10 per registered surface-water diversion and 

$10 per registered well, which is payable at the time of wateruse reporting.

3. Fees collected will be utilized for cost-sharing on waterconservation practices, administration, and education 

programs.

4. The period for registration and reporting extends annually from 

October 1 through March 31.
For additional information write to:

District Chief 

U.S. Geological Survey 

2301 Federal Office Building 

700 West Capitol Avenue 

Little Rock, Arkansas 72201

Executive Director 

Arkansas Soil and Water

Conservation Commission 

101 East Capitol Avenue, Suite 350 

Little Rock, Arkansas 72201

Copies of this report can be purchased 

from:

U.S. Geological Survey

Earth Science Information Center

Open-File Reports Section

Box 25286, MS 517

Denver Federal Center

Denver, Colorado 80225