MEMPHIS, Tenn. -- The Mississippi River Commission will conduct its annual high-water inspection trip on the Mississippi River, April 8-12, 2024. The commission has scheduled four public meetings aboard the Motor Vessel Mississippi in selected towns along the river.
Members of the commission will meet with local partners, stakeholders, and residents. During the scheduled time for the public to provide testimony, commission members will hear comments and concerns, as well as any and all ideas and suggestions presented at that time.
** All events are scheduled from 9:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. **
Meeting Dates and Locations:
- April 8: New Madrid, Mo.(City Front)
- April 9: Memphis, Tenn. (Mud Island Park)
- April 10: Greenville, Miss. (City Front)
- April 12: Baton Rouge, LA - City Front
The Mississippi River Commission, established in 1879, comprises seven members, each nominated by the President of the United States and vetted by the Senate. Three members are officers of the Corps of Engineers, one from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and three civilians, two of whom are civil engineers.
The general duties of the Commission include:
- Recommending policy and work programs.
- Studying and reporting on the need for modifications or additions to the flood control and navigation project.
- Conducting semi-annual inspection trips.
The authority of the Commission extends the entire length of the Mississippi River from its headwaters at Lake Itasca, Minnesota, to Head of Passes, Louisiana, where the Mississippi River empties into the Gulf of Mexico.
The public hearing process is unique to the Mississippi River Commission and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The purpose of the public meetings is to maintain a dialogue between watershed interests, the public, and the Corps. The public makes presentations orally, and a copy of the remarks is presented to the Commission for official record and written response.
The Commission and the Corps value the opportunity to hear issues and concerns firsthand through the public hearing process. Interaction with congressional, federal, and state interests, local boards, non-government organizations, and the public is crucial to the decision-making process for the nation's water resources.
The Mississippi River Commission brings critical engineering representation to the drainage basin, which impacts 41% of the United States and includes 1.25 million square miles, over 250 tributaries, 31 states, and two Canadian provinces.
For more information, contact the MRC administrative officer at 601-634-5768 or email contact-MRC@usace.army.mil.