The alum fork of the upper saline river is an extraordinary resource and ecologically sensitive waterbody that provides habitat for many state and federally listed species of conservation concern

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), Region 4, awarded $426,556.56 to the Arkansas Game & Fish Commission (AGFC) under the State Wildlife Grants (SWG) Program (CFDA 15.634) on October 1, 2025, for a two-year implementation period concluding September 30, 2027. This formula grant funds stream restoration and habitat connectivity improvements on the Alum Fork of the Upper Saline River in Saline County, Arkansas. The primary deliverables include removal and replacement of a high-priority fish passage barrier at the Alum Fork and Weyerhaeuser 24000 Road intersection to restore stream network connectivity for state and federally listed aquatic species of greatest conservation need. Secondary environmental improvements encompass sediment load reduction from adjacent unpaved roads and riparian areas to protect the biodiverse Alum Fork headwaters.

The project incorporates The Nature Conservancy as a subrecipient (subaward issued January 30, 2026) and establishes a demonstration and education site to advance public understanding of aquatic habitat connectivity, ecological restoration, and stream resilience to environmental disturbances. These conservation actions directly align with priorities identified in Arkansas's Wildlife Action Plan and support the SWG Program's mission of implementing proactive, strategic conservation to benefit species before they require endangered species protections.

This project will benefit numerous aquatic species of greatest conservation need in the alum fork and the upper saline river conservation opportunity area by restoring stream network connectivity through removing and replacing a high priority fish passage barrier on alum fork and weyerhaeuser 24000 road in saline county. In addition this project will reduce sediment loads from adjacent unpaved roads and riparian areas to this biodiverse stretch of the alum fork headwaters. The project will further provide a demonstration site for education and outreach to highlight the importance of improving aquatic habitat connectivity and ecological conditions to enhance the adaptive capacity of streams to recover from floods and other disturbances while enabling aquatic species to access upstream spawning grounds and diverse habitats. The nature conservancy will be a subrecipient of this award.