Forgotten Backwater Flood

FINISH THE PUMPS!

SUBMIT YOUR COMMENT TO THE CORPS 

    Copy and paste the following text into the comment section: [Date] [Name] [Address] District Engineer U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Vicksburg District 4155 Clay Street Vicksburg, Mississippi 39138-3435 yazoobackwater@usace.army.mil Re: Draft Supplement No. 2 to the Final Supplement No. 1 to the 1982 Yazoo Area Pump Project Final Environmental Impact Statement To the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, I am writing you as a concerned citizen [ex: of Redwood, MS/the South Delta/Mississippi] in full support of the completion of the Yazoo Backwater Area Pumping Plant to relieve severe and prolonged man-made flooding in the South Delta. As a victim of backwater flooding, I would like to share with you what my community, my friends, my family, and I have suffered through for [insert time frame – Ex: 20 years, 2019-2020, 3 generations]. I am a [businessman/landowner/farmer/student/health care provider/retired/elderly citizen]. The Forgotten Backwater Flood of 2019 affected [me/my family/my business] in the following ways; [tell your personal story of how the flood affected you financially, physically, and mentally. Describe direct impacts the flood had you such as daily boating, travel issues, loss of home, personal items or income, availability of resources, etc.. Describe witnessing the depletion of wildlife, forestry, homes, roads, businesses, etc..] We have been fighting for the completion of the Mississippi River & Tributaries Project enacted by the Flood Control Act of 1941 for nearly 80 years, and we will not stop. NOW is the time to implement the only long-term proven solution to devastating backwater flooding in the South Mississippi Delta – the Pumps. Sincerely, [insert name] [insert additional info such as title, contact info or address if you wish] #finishthepumps
Submit
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers released a draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) on the Yazoo Backwater Pumps on October 16, 2020.  Using new data and studies, the Corps has shown, again, that the Pumps should be built.  The Pumps will reduce devastating flood damage and will help, rather than harm, the environment.

The Yazoo backwater has flooded in nine of the last ten years.  The historic flood of 2019 covered 548,000 acres, remaining on the land for over 6 months.  Flood damages, based on changed flood frequency, height and duration, have increased since this important project was authorized in 1941.  It is time to complete this final component of the flood control project.

The SEIS presents a project that differs from the project described in 2007.  At that time, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency “vetoed” the Pumps based on assumed adverse potential impacts to wetlands habitat.  This 2020 SEIS demonstrates that such impacts will not occur.  The 2020 Proposed Project offers additional features for environmental improvement:
  • Stream flow augmentation during dry periods, to enhance fish and wildlife habitat, consisting of water from 34 wells along the Mainline Mississippi River Levee in the upper part of the study area.
  • Reforestation of virtually all low-lying land under 87’ with the fee purchase of 2,405 acres for compensatory mitigation and another 2,700 acres of reforestation easements for non-structural flood control.
  • Adaptive management plan, which will allow adaptations if necessary to environmental protection based on actual monitoring results, not predictions.
  • Improved accuracy of wetland delineation, using 1-foot contour maps rather than 10-foot contours and over 10 years of actual monitoring data
  • Improved information on fish, wildlife and wetlands based on data collection and studies published with the past 10 years.
  • Change in pump station location and pump fuel (natural gas) to minimize impacts.

The SEIS examines the Pumps as described in 2007 in light of this new information.  The 2020 Proposed Project consists of a 14,000 cfs pumping station located at Deer Creek which will reduce the height and duration of backwater floods. The Pumps will lower the Base Flood Elevation (BFE)(the 100-year flood) 5.1’ from 100.3’ to 95.2’. This 5.1’ reduction removes the vast majority of homes and all highways out of the BFE. This 5.1’ reduction will keep habitat flood-free for the wildlife to survive during backwater floods.

The Corps’ SEIS will be open for public comment until November 30, 2020.  The Corps will provide information in the future about a virtual public meeting on the SEIS.

We urge the Community to comment on the SEIS so that the Corps understands the importance of this project.
​
Comments on the Draft SEIS II should be mailed to:

District Engineer
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Vicksburg District
4155 Clay Street
Vicksburg, MS 39138-3435
 
Comments can be emailed to:
 
YazooBackwater@usace.army.mil or by filling out the form to the left. 

 

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