POCAHONTAS, Ark. — The Eleven Point River in Randolph County is slated for a $1 million waterway improvement project funded through the state’s settlement with chemical manufacturer Monsanto. Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin announced the funding on Friday, specifying that the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission will oversee the initiative at the Oxborrow property.
Details about the project’s timeline or the exact nature of the planned work have not yet been disclosed. However, it is part of a larger effort to improve water quality in Arkansas.
The funding for the Eleven Point River project is one of 21 initiatives sharing $8.4 million from the settlement. Griffin’s office stated that $6.7 million of the settlement has been allocated to Game and Fish Commission projects, with the remaining funds supporting other waterway conservation programs across the state. Among the other projects, $1 million has been earmarked for stabilizing the banks of Crooked Creek in Baxter County.
The funding will address issues such as erosion, sediment buildup, and obstructions that impact fish habitats, according to Game and Fish Commission Chairman Rob Finley. The projects aim to stabilize streambanks and remove barriers that harm aquatic ecosystems.
The state announced on October 2 that it had reached the settlement with Monsanto Co., Solutia Inc., and Pharmacia LLC, resolving claims over environmental contamination caused by polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). The settlement restricts the funds to initiatives aimed at improving water quality, Griffin’s office noted.