For decades, the idea of a Slackwater Harbor in Van Buren was little more than a line item in a long-range plan. But on January 28, 2026, the biggest hurdle was finally cleared. The Crawford County Levee Board signed a "Letter of No Objection," officially green-lighting the $18.1 million regional infrastructure asset.

While it might sound like a technicality, this letter is the key that unlocks a spring construction start and sets the stage for a transformation of the River Valley economy by 2030.

Unlike a traditional dock on the main channel of the Arkansas River, a slackwater harbor is a man-made channel (approximately 1,000 feet long and 200 feet wide) carved off the river.

The 2019 flood taught the River Valley a hard lesson: when the river rises, commerce stops. The Van Buren Slackwater Harbor is designed to solve that.

By 2030, this harbor will be the anchor of a "multimodal" hub. When you combine the harbor with the I-49 extension and the Port of Fort Smith’s rail upgrades, the River Valley becomes one of the most efficient "Dry Ports" in the United States.

With the Levee Board’s approval in hand, the project moves to its final pre-construction steps:

While the four-month delay at the Levee Board pushed the completion date back from its original March 2027 target, the momentum is now undeniable.

Marty Shell and WAPDD have noted that the four-month delay means the goal of buying steel in January was missed. They are now racing to order steel by May 2026 to lock in prices before inflation or further bureaucratic delays hit

It’s easy to focus on the "fun" projects like the new Community Center or the Bass Reeves trails. But those quality-of-life investments require a stable tax base. The Slackwater Harbor is the "engine" that produces the industrial revenue and jobs necessary to support the schools, fire stations, and parks we want for our families.

Traditional docks are on the "main channel," where water moves fast. During high water or floods, the current becomes too dangerous for barges to dock or remain steady. A "slackwater" harbor is a man-made "cul-de-sac" off the river. Because the water inside isn't moving, barges can be loaded and unloaded 365 days a year, regardless of how fast the main river is flowing.

No. The $18.1 million project is primarily funded by a $15.096 million federal grant from the Maritime Administration (MARAD). The remaining balance is being covered by Five Rivers Distribution, the private company that operates the port. This is a rare example of a massive infrastructure project coming to Van Buren with zero direct cost to local taxpayers

This was the primary concern of the Crawford County Levee Board. However, extensive engineering by Mickle Griffin (a Fort Smith-based firm) proved that the harbor design does not impact the structural integrity of the levee. The Levee Board’s "Letter of No Objection" (signed Jan 28, 2026) was issued only after the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and local engineers verified the safety of the plans.

Beyond the immediate construction jobs, the harbor is expected to support roughly 70 to 100 high-wage industrial jobs over the next decade. More importantly, it "anchors" existing manufacturers like Bekaert, who rely on the port for raw steel. By making the port more reliable, we ensure those companies stay and grow in Van Buren rather than moving to cities with better water access.

Now that the Levee Board has signed off, the final steps are environmental approvals from MARAD. Construction is slated to begin in Spring 2026 (April/May). The goal is to get the "steel in the ground" as quickly as possible to lock in prices before inflation can push the budget higher.

No. Because the harbor is located in a man-made channel off the main river, it keeps industrial barge traffic tucked away and out of the main navigation channel where recreational boaters travel.