(a)
(1) The commission shall be composed of eight (8) members, appointed by the Governor as follows: Two (2) who are residents and electors of Little River County, two (2) who are residents and electors of Hempstead County, two (2) who are residents and electors of Miller County, and two (2) who are residents and electors of Lafayette County.
(2) The Governor's appointments shall be by and with the advice and consent of the Senate.
(b) Before entering upon commission duties, each member of the commission shall take and subscribe and file in the office of the Secretary of State an oath to support the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of Arkansas and to faithfully perform the duties of the office upon which he is about to enter.
(c) For each member of the commission, the term of office shall commence on January 15 following the January 14 expiration date, and shall end on January 14 of the seventh year following the year in which the term commenced.
(d) Any vacancies arising in the membership of the commission for any reason other than expiration of the regular terms for which the members were appointed shall be filled by appointment by the Governor, and to be thereafter effective until the expiration of the regular terms, subject, however, to the confirmation of the Senate when it is next in session.
(e) Members of the commission shall receive no pay for their services, but whenever the General Assembly shall have appropriated funds to the Arkansas Water Development Fund administered by the Arkansas Soil and Water Conservation Commission, they may, upon proper application to the Arkansas Soil and Water Conservation Commission, be reimbursed for expenses in accordance with § 25-16-901 et seq.