Ark. Code § 14-120-218
The Governor and Secretary of State are authorized, empowered, and directed to make and execute any and all necessary and proper contracts, easements, deeds, or other instruments, in writing, giving, granting, and conveying to the board of directors of any such district, to the United States of America, the Secretary of the Army, Chief of Engineers of the United States Army, or any other federal agency rights-of-way for levees, levee foundations, channel rectifications, reservoirs, reservoir sites, drainage canals, and easements for flowage, and storage rights over, upon, and across any lands owned by the state which are necessary and required for the construction of levees, channel rectifications, floodways, reservoirs, spillways, and diversions and drainage canals. However, no such conveyance, contract, donation, or grant shall impair any valid outstanding lien against the lands or any vested private right therein.
Ark. Code § 14-120-218