The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has released an Environmental Impact Statement regarding plans to prevent the Pearl River from flooding in central Mississippi.
According to officials, the statement evaluates flood risk management alternatives in Rankin and Hinds counties, where Pearl River flooding has taken a disastrous toll in recent years. The study assesses two flood control plans — Alternative D1 and Alternative E1.
These two plans were drafted in response to the Army Corps of Engineers rejecting the “One Lake Plan,” a proposed multi-billion-dollar plan to minimize flooding risk in the region. Officials deemed “One Lake” too costly.
Alternative D1 entails removing the 100-year-old weir at LeFleur’s Bluff Park and constructing a new weir further south down Interstate 20 to create a more than 1,000-acre lake. A weir is a small barrier, or low-rise dam, built across a river or stream to control and raise the water level on the upstream side. This proposal is backed by the Pearl River Revitalization Coalition, a group of local politicians, businesspeople, and members of nonprofit institutions.
The coalition believes this could allow Jackson leaders and residents to tap into a new stream of recreational and economic opportunities that had not previously been attainable.
“It is imperative for the Jackson metro area to be protected from flooding and have quality of life amenities like this to attract and retain the skilled workforce needed to drive economic development,” said coalition member Jeff Rent, who is president & CEO of the Greater Jackson Chamber Partnership. “We are excited about the opportunity for new beginnings in Jackson, and this project will accelerate our growth and secure our region’s future.”
Alternative E1 serves to dredge, clear, and grub the river, expanding it just as D1 does, but without building a weir. Both plans include the expansion of a levee and the addition of three others along the river.
The full report can be found below:
For Alternative D1, the estimated project cost is between $873 million and $917 million, while E1 is expected to cost between $708 million and $753 million, up significantly from what was projected in the original proposals released in June 2024. The Corps, however, had to go back to the drawing board to refine its proposals after receiving more than 6,000 comments in response to last summer’s plans.
A 45-day public comment period is currently underway for the public to offer its feedback on the proposals. A virtual meeting is scheduled on Monday, July 14, while in-person meetings will take place on the following dates:
- Tuesday, July 29 at 6 p.m.: Monticello Civic Center located at 125 E. Broad Street in Monticello
- Wednesday, July 30 at 2 p.m.: Slidell Municipal Auditorium located at 2056 2nd Street in Slidell, La.
- Thursday, July 31 at 2 p.m.: St. Philip’s Episcopal Church located at 5400 Old Canton Rd. in Jackson
- Thursday, July 31 at 6 p.m.: MS Public Broadcasting Auditorium located at 3825 Ridgewood Road in Jackson
Public comments on the environmental impact statements can submitted in verbally or via a written comment card at an in-person session via email to pearlriverfrm@usace.army.mil or by physical mail addressed to: Mr. Jason Emery; Environmental Branch U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Regional Planning and Environmental Division South, CEMVN-PDS, 7400 Leake Avenue, New Orleans, Louisiana 70118.
The public comment period will end on Aug. 18. The assessment and review period is a prequel to the Corps being able to utilize hundreds of millions of dollars in federal funding to mitigate flooding in the Pearl River Basin.
