Griffin Announces $8.4 Million for Waterway Projects
Arkansas funds 21 waterway improvement and restoration projects using money from the state's settlement with Monsanto over PCB contamination.
Updated on Nov. 6, 2026 in Utilities
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Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin announced $8.4 million for 21 waterway projects across the state on Friday. The funding comes from the state's settlement with Monsanto over PCB contamination claims.
Why it matters
The projects are designated to improve water quality, reduce erosion and sedimentation, restore aquatic habitats, and preserve waterways. The settlement agreement restricts the funds to purposes related to water quality.
Of the $8.4 million total, $6.7 million is administered by the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission for 17 projects, while $1.7 million goes to four additional waterway and conservation efforts. Specific project-level completion dates were not included in the announcement.
The players
Tim Griffin
Tim Griffin is the Attorney General of Arkansas, who announced the settlement and the waterway funding.
Arkansas Game and Fish Commission
The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission is the state agency responsible for managing wildlife and fisheries, and it administers $6.7 million of the funding.
Monsanto Company
Monsanto Company is the agricultural and chemical company whose PCB manufacturing led to the contamination claims resolved by the settlement.
The details
Griffin announced the funding after a settlement with Monsanto Company, Solutia Inc. and Pharmacia LLC, announced October 2, that resolves claims that PCBs manufactured by Monsanto caused environmental contamination. Projects include work on the Eleven Point River and Crooked Creek, Bayou Bartholomew, and sites in Saline, Randolph, Madison, Pulaski and Benton counties.
Timeline
October 2, 2026: Griffin announced the settlement with Monsanto, Solutia and Pharmacia.
Friday, November 6, 2026: Griffin announced the $8.4 million in waterway project funding.
Roadmap
The allocation follows the state's settlement with Monsanto over PCB contamination, applying recovered proceeds to water quality rather than general revenue. The projects extend that settlement into concrete environmental restoration work across multiple Arkansas counties.
Residents who fish, boat, or spend time near the affected rivers and creeks may see improved habitat and water conditions as projects progress. The stub does not specify when specific improvements will be visible to the public.
The takeaway
Settlement dollars recovered from environmental contamination can be directed toward measurable water quality improvements. Tracking how these projects progress will show whether the funds deliver lasting restoration in Arkansas waterways.
Further reading
Explore more on Utilities coverage across Arkansas and the region.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Kait8.
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