Dale Bumpers: “Many of us in Arkansas have been working for several years to reverse a critical ground water resource problem that is…”

“Many of us in Arkansas have been working for several years to reverse a critical ground water resource problem that is developing in our region and will ultimately affect the entire country. Throughout this century, aquifers in the lower Mississippi River Valley have been falling due to high demand and relatively low recharge. The United States Geological Survey has found that current trends by the year 2015 will reduce the saturated thickness of the aquifers to the point that soils will begin to compact, recharge will not be possible, and the aquifer will effectively be dead, along with nearly half of the U.S. rice industry. Because of the magnitude of this problem, state and local efforts to correct it will never succeed without assistance from the federal government. In that event, a regional economic collapse will occur, a major environmental resource will forever be lost, and our legacy to future generations will carry a lasting shadow of irresponsibility. The President's Budget Request provided $11.5 million for the Grand Prairie Region.”