|
Over the last two weeks, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Memphis District has hosted eight public scoping meetings to gather input and feedback from citizens and other stakeholders concerning a five year, $25M comprehensive study to improve management of the Mississippi River, from Cape Girardeau, Missouri, to the Gulf of Mexico.
The Lower Mississippi River Comprehensive Management Study (LMRCMS), managed by the New Orleans District, is to identify recommendations for the comprehensive management of the region across multiple purposes, including: hurricane and storm damage reduction, flood risk management, structure and nonstructural flood control, floodplain management strategies, navigation, ecosystem and environmental restoration, water supply, hydropower production, recreation, and other purposes as determined by the Secretary of the Army.
The LMRCMS area encompasses seven states: Arkansas, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, and Tennessee. Because of the size and scope of the LMRCMS, active participation, and collaboration from the public and stakeholders throughout the five-year endeavor will be critical to identifying practical and sustainable recommendations for successful management of the river.
To help gather recommendations, the Memphis District conducted public meetings here in Memphis and Dyersburg, Tennessee; Helena, Arkansas; and Columbus, Kentucky. The district hosted two meetings in each location. At each of the meetings, attendees were first provided an overview of the study, followed by an on-site open house meet-and-greet. The meetings offered participants an opportunity to ask study-related questions and provide unfiltered comments and feedback directly to district personnel on the management of the river.
USACE has provided in person, mail in, email, and online methods for the public to provide comments. The scoping/public comment period of the five-year LMRCMS ends on April 2, 2024.
|