Mississippi Receives $56 Million for Flood Control Projects

June 20, 2018
The funding will go towards dredging areas of the Mississippi, managing wastewater, a storm water management study and more

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) released a plan that includes nearly $56 million for Mississippi water projects, including wastewater treatment, storm water management and erosion control projects throughout the state.

Released June 11, the list of projects includes $3 million for maintenance dredging at the Mississippi State Port at Gulfport and nearly $1.2 million for maintenance dredging of the Rosedale Harbor. Additionally, DeSoto County will receive $3.6 million for wastewater treatment and $1.5 million for a storm water management study.

Mississippi Republican Senators Roger Wicker and Cindy Hyde-Smith have praised the funding, stressing that the projects will improve communities along the river’s banks.

“These projects in the Army Corps work plan demonstrate the far-reaching impact of the Mississippi River and Tributaries project as a critical water and port infrastructure investment,” Wicker said in a news release. “The additional investments in water and wastewater infrastructure will pay dividends for Mississippi’s communities.”

Notably missing from the list of newly-funded projects is a proposed pump project that has been frequently debated in the Lower Yazoo Basin in the Delta, as reported by the Associated Press. While the pump project would have flood control benefits, critics argue it would destroy up to 200,000 acres of wetlands and cost up to $220 million.