Vicksburg, Miss. – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) has signed a record of decision marking a significant milestone in the efforts to address flooding and environmental challenges in the region.

Maj. Gen. Kimberly A. Peeples, commander of the Mississippi Valley Division of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, signed the Record of Decision for the 2024 Yazoo Backwater Study Area water management plan Thursday.

The decision comes after years of study, community input and careful planning to improve water management while supporting local communities and habitats. USACE worked closely with key federal agencies like the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), forming innovative partnerships to create a unified approach to water management that resulted in an implementable project that is environmentally compliant.

The Yazoo Backwater area has faced longstanding flooding issues, particularly during high stages of the Mississippi River, leading to significant impacts on local communities, environmental habitat, agricultural lands, and infrastructure. The plan improves the safety, security, and quality of life for the communities in the Yazoo Backwater area.

The plan includes the installation of high-volume pumps at the Steele Bayou Water Control Structure and managing water levels to the 90-foot elevation mark during the crop season (March 25 – October 15) and the 93-foot elevation mark during the non-crop season (October 16 – March 24). Additionally, a nonstructural feature will be implemented to address flood impacts on properties in impacted areas, which includes a voluntary acquisition program for affected structures and agricultural lands, along with options for flood-proofing or raising structures.

“Reaching this milestone is a testament to the technical expertise, dedication, and collaboration of our team. This record of decision reflects our shared commitment to serving the Yazoo Backwater community and to finding solutions to a longstanding issue that has affected our Mississippi Delta communities for decades,” said Col. Jeremiah Gipson, commander of the USACE Vicksburg District.  “I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve accomplished together, and this marks an important step forward as we continue to address this challenge and work toward lasting solutions.”

Three Memorandums of Agreement will guide future collaboration between USACE, USEPA, and USFWS, ensuring the project’s long-term success:

• Memorandum #1: Pump and Water Control Structure Operations Plans will ensure agency coordination prior to changes to the pump operations and water control structure operations plans.
• Memorandum #2: Compensatory Mitigation Plan will ensure the environmental compensatory mitigation for the project is fulfilled.
• Memorandum #3: Monitoring and Adaptive Management Plan will ensure appropriate monitoring occurs to determine whether the project impacts identified were correctly assessed and the water management plan is working as intended.

USACE will now move into the pre-construction engineering and design phase, and the mitigation phase. Mitigation for all environmental impacts will be secured prior to the project construction.  Funding for the construction will be sought in advance of the completion of the design phase. USACE is dedicated to continuing collaboration with local communities and stakeholders throughout the design and implementation phases, ensuring the plan’s success in managing flood risks and enhancing the region’s resilience.

For further information on the plan and analysis, please visit:

https://www.mvk.usace.army.mil/Missions/Programs-and-Project-Management/Yazoo-Backwater/

The USACE Vicksburg District is engineering solutions to the nation’s toughest challenges. The Vicksburg District encompasses a 68,000-square-mile area across portions of Mississippi, Arkansas, and Louisiana, that holds nine major river basins and incorporates approximately 460 miles of mainline Mississippi River levees. The Vicksburg District is engaged in hundreds of projects and employs approximately 1,100 personnel.