An erosion problem at the 150-year-old Vicksburg National Cemetery along Mint Spring Bayou in the Vicksburg National Military Park is forcing National Park Service officials to shore up and repair an eroding slope on a bluff to protect a section of the cemetery along the bayou.

“This is a problem that has been going on for several years,” said park superintendent Bill Justice. “At one time we put in shotcrete (a product used to stabilize slopes) and that has done very well. But we’ve found out we’ve got to stabilize under that area to fully protect it.”

Mint Spring runs through the Military Park and along the southern edge of the cemetery, and drains into the Yazoo River Diversion Canal. During flood periods, Justice said, the river backs up into the creek.

According to a press release from the National Park Service, the Mint Spring Bayou slope is vulnerable to damage from severe rains and future damage and erosion. A southern brick wall around the cemetery has already collapsed and fallen into the bayou, and continued erosion at the base of the walls could undercut the wall and threaten the present repairs, which were made in 2011.

Park Service officials proposes to stabilize and repair the slope using an earth or stone berm at the bottom of the bluff backed by a 317-foot stabilized earth retaining wall running parallel to the slope.

The berm, which will consist of crushed stone or fill material, will be installed between the existing slope and the retaining wall, and horizontal drains along the base of the slopes would help drainage.

The National Park Service is taking public comments on the proposed plan through June 23.

Comments can be submitted online at http://parkplanning.nps.gov/vick or mailed to the park to the Office of the Superintendent, Vicksburg National Military Park, 3201 Clay St., Vicksburg MS 39183. ATTN: Spring Bayou Slope Stabilization Project.