Hyde-Smith: Mississippians rely on USACE works for flood protection

U.S. Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith voted last week to send the White House the FY2024 Energy and Water Development (EWD) Appropriations Bill, which will direct more than $195.9 million to Mississippi in support of specifically-authorized USACE projects and activities.

“Mississippians rely on Army Corps works for flood protection, economic activities, and recreation, which makes the Energy and Water Development bill critical to our state. I believe the final negotiated bill will enable the Corps to improve harbors, ports, levees, and water and wastewater infrastructure in our state,” Hyde-Smith said. 

Among the items of interest to Mississippi in the FY2024 EWD Appropriations Bill:

• $41.7 million for water, wastewater, or stormwater drainage system improvement projects across Mississippi (DeSoto County, Madison County, Rankin County, Meridian, Batesville, Columbus, Gautier, Pearl, and Vardaman).
• $27.7 million for maintenance work at federally-operated flood control reservoirs and lakes in Mississippi (Arkabutla, Enid, Grenada, Sardis, and Okatibbee Lake).
• $22.2 million for dredging at Mississippi’s critical ports and harbors (Rosedale, Greenville, Vicksburg, Gulfport, and Pascagoula).
• $43.7 million to advance major ongoing flood control projects (Delta Headwaters Project, Upper Yazoo Projects, Yazoo Backwater Area Project).
• $55.6 million for operation and maintenance work on the Tennessee-Tombigbee River.
• $27.5 million for research and development, the vast majority of which will take place at the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center in Vicksburg.

The bill includes language preventing the Army Corps from altering levee owner/operator eligibility for the PL.84-99 program.  

Also, this language will allow levee owner/operators to focus on the critical levee maintenance, upkeep, and readiness rather than other unnecessary regulatory burdens.