Fort Smith Division Stormwater Outfall, Fort Smith, Arkansas

Fort Smith Division is a stormwater outfall facility located at 3233 South Zero in Fort Smith, Sebastian County, Arkansas, United States. The facility is operational and serves as a point of discharge for stormwater runoff in the urban and industrial areas of Fort Smith. As a stormwater outfall, the facility is subject to the US EPA National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) permit requirements. Fort Smith, as a Phase II small municipality, must implement stormwater management programs to reduce pollutant discharges to the maximum extent practicable. The facility's NAICS code 322221 (Paperboard Mills) suggests an industrial catchment area, which may require additional industrial stormwater permitting. The facility plays a key role in managing stormwater runoff in the Arkansas River basin, helping to control flooding and reduce the transport of pollutants to local water bodies. Proper operation of this outfall supports compliance with the Clean Water Act and protects downstream water quality.

Fort Smith Division discharges stormwater into the Arkansas River watershed, which is a major tributary of the Mississippi River. The region experiences a humid subtropical climate with significant rainfall, leading to high volumes of stormwater runoff. Urban and industrial land use in the catchment area can contribute pollutants such as sediment, heavy metals, and organic compounds. Effective stormwater management is critical to prevent impairment of local water bodies and to meet water quality standards under the Clean Water Act.