The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Vicksburg District, has announced the final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Yazoo Backwater Study Area (YSA) project is set to be published Friday.

USACE officials said this critical milestone is the result of collaborative efforts between the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and USACE, reflecting a commitment to integrated water management and robust public engagement.

The YSA, located in Mississippi north of Vicksburg, is prone to recurrent flooding due to rain accumulation behind levees in the watershed. The final EIS outlines an innovative water management plan that combines both structural and non-structural elements aimed at reducing flood risk while prioritizing environmental sustainability and minimizing impacts to vital wetland resources.

“This final EIS marks a significant step forward in our ongoing commitment to address the challenges of flood risk management in the Yazoo Backwater area,” Army for Civil Works Acting Assistant Secretary Jaime Pinkham said. “Our collaborative approach with the EPA and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and local entities, showcases the strength of interagency partnerships in developing solutions that reduce the flood risk to local communities and infrastructure, and safeguard our natural resources.”

The proposed water management plan is designed to reduce backwater flooding for local communities and agricultural production while ensuring that necessary measures are in place to offset any impacts to wetlands, fish, wildlife, and their habitats, USACE said.

The USACE will need to secure mitigation for approximately 1,200 acres of historically unmitigated wetland impacts associated with existing USACE projects in the Basin, alongside mitigation for new unavoidable impacts from the proposed actions.

The USACE received extensive public input gathered during the earlier Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) phase, which concluded Aug. 12. The collaborative efforts during this process have allowed for comprehensive engagement with affected communities and stakeholders, USACE officials said, ensuring that a wide range of perspectives have been considered in the development of the final document.

For more information about the Yazoo Backwater Study Area EIS, including access to the document and details on how to participate in the public process, visit: https://www.mvk.usace.army.mil/Missions/Programs-and-Project-Management/Yazoo-Backwater