MEMPHIS, Tenn., April 23, 2010 – The Memphis District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will
hold a public scoping meeting on the St. Johns Bayou and New Madrid Floodway Project at 7 p.m. on
May 11, 2010 at the East Prairie Church of God, 322 N. Washington St., East Prairie, MO. The purpose of the meeting is to solicit input from individuals and interested parties so the Corps can properly identify and address problems, needs and opportunities within the project area.
“The Corps will analyze both positive and negative project impacts to fisheries, water quality,
wetlands, waterfowl, shorebirds, endangered species and cultural resources,” Project Manager Danny
Ward said. “We want to hear from everyone who has an interest in this project.”
Ward said the Corps of Engineers will use the information gathered from the scoping meeting
and other sources to prepare a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for the project. The DEIS
will address and evaluate the environmental, economic and social impacts of alternative plans to provide flood control and develop and discuss locations and ways to mitigate any potentially negative effects of the project.
The authorized St. Johns Bayou and New Madrid Floodway Project consists of channel
enlargement and improvement in the St. Johns Bayou Basin along the lower 4½ miles of the St. Johns
Bayou, beginning at New Madrid, then continues 8.1 miles along the Birds Point-New Madrid Setback
Levee Ditch and ends with 10.8 miles along the St. James Ditch. Also included in the authorized project are two pumping stations and a closure levee at the southern end of the New Madrid Floodway.
“The Corps of Engineers remains committed to finding solutions to the challenging problem of
uncontrolled flooding and seeking opportunities to benefit areas such as Big Oak Tree State Park,” Col. Thomas Smith, the Corps’ Memphis District Commander said.
Release no. 10-01