AGFC authorizes $5.5 million in boating access projects during Doramus’s final meeting

It’s no secret that outgoing Commission Chairman Anne Marie Doramus is passionate about angling and public access in The Natural State, so it’s only fitting that in her final meeting with the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission held Thursday in Little Rock, the Commission authorized more than $5.5 million in boating and fishing access improvements within the next year using Arkansas Marine Fuel Tax funds.

The MFT projects approved include construction that will be conducted by AGFC contractors as well as joint projects that the AGFC will fund for partnering agencies to complete. The money comes from taxes collected by the Arkansas Department of Transportation and is allocated by the AGFC to ensure boating fuel is properly represented in fuel tax money collected and the users of that fuel benefit from their contributions.

According to the budget report, the following partner projects are slated for funding in the coming fiscal year:

• Resurfacing and improvement of Clay County roads 123, 113 and 116 to enhance safe, reliable access to boat ramps on Dave Donaldson Black River Wildlife Management Area (project to be completed by Clay County);

• Resurfacing Greene County roads 101 and 103, serving Lake Ashbaugh (project to be completed by Greene County);

• Improvements to Pine Ridge Road leading to De Queen Lake (project to be completed by Sevier County);

• Repair and upgrades to Cranfield Road serving Norfork Lake (project to be completed by Baxter County);

• Tree removal, repair of road surface and culvert replacement on County Road 52 leading to the Maurice Lewis Jr. Access at Lake Columbia (project to be completed by Columbia County);

• Repair surface and shoulder breaks on Arkansas Highway 188E to Little Fir Landing on Lake Ouachita (project to be completed by Montgomery County);

• Repair surface and shoulder breaks on Twin Creek Road to Twin Creek Public Use Area on Lake Ouachita (project to be completed by Montgomery County);

• Asphalt overlay at the Round Bottom Access to the White River (project to be completed by Stone County);

• Asphalt overlay at Bayou Access Road leading to Spring River (project to be completed by Fulton County);

• Asphalt overlay on Dallas County Road 246 (project to be completed by Dallas County);

• Construction of ADA-accessible pier for safe and convenient launching of kayaks, canoes and non-motorized watercraft at Horsehead Lake Recreation Area (project to be completed by Johnson County);

• Construction of a fishing pier at T.J. House Reservoir (project carried forward from Fiscal Year 2026; to be completed by the City of Mulberry);

• Improvements to Arkansas Highway 949 to Shangri-La Resort Road on Lake Ouachita (project carried forward from Fiscal Year 2026; to be completed by ARDOT);

• Renovations of bathroom and picnic facilities at two public boat ramps in Chicot County (project carried forward from Fiscal Year 2026; to be completed by Chicot County);

• Rechip and seal of Harris Road and Hunger Run Road at Lake Monticello and Ozment Bluff Road leading to the Saline River Public access (project carried forward from Fiscal Year 2026; to be completed by Drew County);

• Design and construction of boat ramp included in bridge replacement on the Illinois River (project carried forward from Fiscal Year 2026; to be completed by ARDOT);

• Bridge replacement at Benzal Road on Trusten Holder WMA (project carried forward from Fiscal Year 2026; to be completed by ARDOT); and

• Bridge replacement at Wrape Road on Bayou Meto WMA (project carried forward from Fiscal Year 2026; to be completed by ARDOT).

Doramus’s passion for waterfowl hunting and wetland habitat was also addressed during the meeting, this time by AGFC Commissioner Steve Cook and Corey Dunn, who represented Ducks Unlimited to share an update about the organization’s recent George Dunklin Tribute Dinner. Thanks to $659,000 raised during the dinner, the most of any tribute dinner in DU history, as well as planned gifts and donations pledged in Dunklin’s honor, More than $4.8 million has been earmarked for wetland habitat work in Arkansas. [CLICK FOR PRESENTATION]

AGFC Program Coordinator Emily Roberts offered an update on the agency’s Prescribed Fire Program, stating the agency has accomplished 30,000 acres of prescribed fire on WMA property and private lands in the last fiscal year. AGFC staff assisted on an additional 30,000 acres of partner land. Roberts also updated commissioners on the agency’s fire program leadership requirements, a new post-burn monitoring protocol, recent training for staff and the status of Qualified Prescribed Burner courses offered for landowners around the state. [CLICK FOR PRESENTATION]

AGFC Director Doug Schoenrock highlighted some of the most recent events taking place that concern outdoors enthusiasts, including a new mandate with federal partners in the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Refuge System that will open more acreage than ever before to outdoorsmen and women. According to his report, pending a public comment period currently underway, more than 2,000 additional acres at Felsenthal National Wildlife Refuge will be opened to the public this year, as well as 1,200 acres of the Cache River National Wildlife Refuge. Additional opportunities at Holla Bend National Wildlife Refuge in the Arkansas River Valley will be available through increased hunting seasons for feral hogs and deer. [CLICK FOR PRESENTATION]

The meeting closed with the Commission unanimously electing Commissioner Rob Finley of Mountain Home as chairman for the next fiscal year and Commissioner Philip Tappan of Little Rock to serve as vice chairman.

As she passed the gavel, Doramus had these final words of thanks for those in attendance and the countless people she has gotten to know during her tenure at the AGFC.

“It’s been the honor of a lifetime to sit in this seat and serve alongside these commissioners, present and past and I can’t wait to see what the future holds for this agency,” Doramus said. “It’s been even more of an honor to get to know you, the people in this agency, sitting in this room, the volunteers, our partners, everybody. You have all made me a better person, and you have taught me so much about conservation and made me realize what I really, really love to do.”

Finley took a minute to appreciate Doramus and the many commissioners who came before, setting the stage for Arkansas’s continued conservation story.

“As I look [to the audience] and see former commissioners who have lit the path for you and I and the bright light you’ve shown upon that path for me to follow, I can’t thank you enough for the work that goes into this,” Finley said.

Finley continued, explaining that sitting on the Commission is similar to being a prizefighter.

“It’s great to be a spectator, but it’s tough to be in the ring; when the battle is over, it’s very rewarding,” Finley said. “You realize there are people you will never please…it’s for the science and the resource.”

In other business, the Commission:

• Recognized 30 AGFC employees representing more than 360 total years of service to the people and natural resources of The Natural State. [CLICK FOR PRESENTATION]

• Recognized Arkansas Game and Fish Foundation President Deke Whitbeck, who offered an update on the AGFF’s events coming this fall, including the Arkansas Outdoors Hall of Fame Banquet and the inaugural Arkansas Legacy Lunker Awards Banquet. Whitbeck also announced the donation of a 150-acre cattle farm from the Henderson Family of northwest Arkansas to be used to further conservation education efforts in the state. [CLICK FOR PRESENTATION]

• Recognized Carlton Wing, who spoke about the increased coverage of Arkansas’s great outdoors through Arkansas TV’s new lineup, which will include the AGFC’s “Arkansas Wildlife Podcast” as well as a new program, “Naturally Wild,” to air weekly on the public television channel throughout Arkansas. [CLICK FOR PRESENTATION]

• Approved the agency’s Fiscal Year 2027 Bayou Bartholomew Project Budget totalling $653,154. [CLICK FOR PRESENTATION]

• Approved the agency’s Fiscal Year 2027 Operating and Maintenance Budget totaling $134.9 million. [CLICK FOR PRESENTATION]

• Approved the agency’s Fiscal Year 2027 Land Purchase Budget totaling $2.4 million for expected property acquisitions within the next year. [CLICK FOR PRESENTATION]

• Approved the agency’s Fiscal Year 2027 Gas Lease Fund Budget totaling $66,000. [CLICK FOR PRESENTATION]

• Approved the agency’s Fiscal Year 2027 Black River Restoration Fund Budget totaling $1.5 million. [CLICK FOR PRESENTATION]

• Approved the agency’s Fiscal Year 2027 Green Tree Reservoir and Wetland Habitat Budget totaling $5.2 million. [CLICK FOR PRESENTATION]

• Awarded outgoing chairman Anne Marie Doramus her service sidearm after seven years of voluntary service to the AGFC and the natural resources of Arkansas. [CLICK FOR PRESENTATION]

• Authorized Director Schoenrock to complete all duties required to convey a 0.7-acre permanent easement with Woodruff Electric Cooperative Corporation at Sheffield Nelson Dagmar Wildlife Management Area for the construction and maintenance of an electric transmission line. [CLICK FOR PRESENTATION]

• Approved a minute order authorizing merit pay increases effective July 1, 2026, for staff who received favorable reviews during their annual performance evaluations. [CLICK FOR PRESENTATION]

• Authorized the removal of 82 structures that do not meet capitalization thresholds from the agency’s capital assets list to comply with practices adopted by the Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration. [CLICK FOR PRESENTATION]

A complete video of the meeting is available on the AGFC’s YouTube Channel.

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GROUP PHOTO
Anne Marie Doramus completed her 82nd meeting with the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission Thursday. AGFC photo by Mike Wintroath.

SPEAKER
Former Commissioner Steve Cook addressed the Commission with an update on $4.8 million raised by Ducks Unlimited for wetland habitat restoration in Arkansas. AGFC photo by Mike Wintroath.

BIG SCREEN
Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders gave a special thank you to Doramus via video during the AGFC’s June meeting on Thursday. AGFC photo by Mike Wintroath.

HANDOFF
Doramus passed the gavel to new AGFC Chairman Rob Finley at her final meeting with the agency. AGFC photo by Mike Wintroath.