Groundwater issues come to the surface at Mid-South conference
“Groundwater is foundational for Arkansas, the Mid-South region, and beyond.” —Edward Swaim
By Drew Viguet
National Agricultural Law Center
U of A System Division of Agriculture
March 19, 2025
Fast facts:
- Bayou Meto Water District’s Ed Swaim will discuss groundwater at the Mid-South
- Session addresses challenges to groundwater availability
- Registration is online, livestream available
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FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — The adage, “out of sight, out of mind,” does not apply when it comes to groundwater.
This below-the-surface resource is critical for the agricultural, industrial and community needs of the Mid-South region of the country and beyond. In 2005, Arkansas groundwater supplied approximately 7.5 billion gallons of water daily to the state, with almost 7 billion gallons used for irrigation alone, according to the Arkansas Office of the State Geologist.
Agriculture, a $24 billion industry in Arkansas, depends heavily on irrigation.
Edward Swaim, executive director of Bayou Meto Water Management District in Lonoke, Arkansas, emphasizes the importance of conserving and using groundwater effectively. Bayou Meto works to provide reliable and sustainable water resources for agriculture, conserve groundwater, and support long-term water use for farmers.
“Groundwater is foundational for Arkansas, the Mid-South region, and beyond,” said Swaim. “It supplies the majority of our state’s water that is used for irrigation. So, it’s vital for groundwater levels to remain constant, or rise, to meet the state’s growing needs. The demand for water is certainly not decreasing.”
At the 12th Annual Mid-South Agricultural and Environmental Law Conference, Swaim will present, “Groundwater Law & Agriculture in the Mid-South: Taking Stock of the Road Ahead.” The conference is co-hosted by the National Agricultural Law Center, or NALC, and the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture Foundation, or NASDA Foundation.
In a previous role with the Arkansas Natural Resources Commission, Swaim helped update the Arkansas Water Plan, of which a major component is groundwater allocation and efficient utilization.
“At the Mid-South conference, I will cover how Arkansas uses, measures and addresses challenges to groundwater availability,” Swaim said. “I will also cover what other Mid-South states are doing in this regard. There is a lot we can learn from each other.”
The conference will be held June 5-6 in Memphis, Tennessee. Before the main conference sessions on June 6, the annual “Beer & BBQ” networking dinner will be held on the evening of June 5 at Charlie Vergos Rendezvous. Registration and information is available at nationalaglawcenter.org/midsouth2025.
“Groundwater trends and issues are frequently at the forefront of agricultural and environmental law discussions, especially in water-intensive regions like the Mid-South,” said NALC Director Harrison Pittman. “We’re looking forward to hearing from Ed on what Arkansas and surrounding states are doing to monitor and address groundwater challenges.”
For information about the NALC, visit nationalaglawcenter.org. The NALC is also on X, Facebook and LinkedIn. Subscribe online to receive NALC Communications, including webinar announcements, the NALC’s Quarterly Newsletter, and The Feed.
Continuing legal education available
The Mid-South conference will be submitted for CLE accreditation in Arkansas, Kansas, Mississippi, Missouri, and Tennessee. Approval for CE will also be sought from the American Society of Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers. Those who register by May 13 are eligible for bonus CLE/CE through the online conference “Early Bird” on May 14.
About the National Agricultural Law Center
Created by Congress in 1987, the National Agricultural Law Center serves as the nation’s leading source of agricultural and food law research and information. The NALC works with producers, agribusinesses, state and federal policymakers, lenders, Congressional staffers, attorneys, land grant universities, students, and many others to provide objective, nonpartisan agricultural and food law research and information to the nation’s agricultural community.
The NALC is a unit of the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture and works in close partnership with the USDA Agricultural Research Service, National Agricultural Library.
About the NASDA Foundation
The NASDA Foundation is the only educational and research organization that directly serves the nation’s state departments of agriculture. It is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. The mission of the NASDA Foundation is to advance agriculture to shape a changing world.
For more information on the NASDA Foundation, visit nasda.org/nasda-foundation. The NASDA Foundation is also on X, Facebook, and LinkedIn.
About the Division of Agriculture
The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture’s mission is to strengthen agriculture, communities, and families by connecting trusted research to the adoption of best practices. Through the Agricultural Experiment Station and the Cooperative Extension Service, the Division of Agriculture conducts research and extension work within the nation’s historic land grant education system.
The Division of Agriculture is one of 20 entities within the University of Arkansas System. It has offices in all 75 counties in Arkansas and faculty on three campuses.
The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture offers all its Extension and Research programs to all eligible persons without regard to race, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, religion, age, disability, marital or veteran status, genetic information, or any other legally protected status, and is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer.
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Media contact:
Drew Viguet
Communications & Special Projects Coordinator
National Agricultural Law Center
dviguet@uark.edu