Hatchie-Loosahatchie Mississippi River Ecosystem Restoration Study

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Hatchie-Loosahatchie Mississippi River Ecosystem Restoration Study

Draft Integrated Feasibility Report and Draft Environmental Assessment Documents

Draft Integrated Feasibility Report and Draft Environmental Assessment (DIFR-DEA)

A public notice for the DIFR-DEA was sent February 10, 2023. This public notice commences the 30-day public comment period which shall continue through March 13, 2023. The DIFR-DEA Main Report and all Appendices are available on this webpage below. Written comments should be submitted by mail to: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Memphis District, Attn: CEMVN-PDC-UDC, 167 North Main St., Room B-202, Memphis, Tennessee 38103, or by email to: LMRRA-Hatchie-Loosahatchie@usace.army.mil

Report Documents: To read the report, please find active links in the module section located directly below titled, Draft Integrated Feasibility Report and Draft Environmental Assessment Documents. Each linked appendix will open in a new window.

PLEASE NOTE: There is NO LINK for "Appendix 2 - Environment," as there are several subsections that fall within this appendix. Please see below.

Contact Information

Email us at:

LMRRA-Hatchie-Loosahatchie@usace.army.mil

News Releases

Hatchie-Loosahatchie Mississippi River Ecosystem Restoration Study public meetings scheduled

9/23/2022

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) and Non-Federal Sponsor, the Lower Mississippi River Conservation Committee (LMRCC), has scheduled public scoping meetings for the Hatchie-Loosahatchie...

USACE Memphis District prepares DIFR-EIS for Hatchie-Loosahatchie Restoration Study

11/10/2022

A Notice of Intent (NOI) was published in the Federal Register on this matter Friday, Nov. 4, 2022. This opened the comment period, which will last until Dec. 5, 2022. ...

Memphis District releases Draft Feasibility Report, Environmental Assessment for Hatchie-Loosahatchie Restoration Study, requests public comment

2/10/2023

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Memphis District (CEMVM) released a Draft Integrated Feasibility Report and Draft Environmental Assessment (DIFR-EA) for the Hatchie-Loosahatchie Mississippi...

Study Overview

The three-year study, which began with a Feasibility Cost Sharing Agreement signing between the Memphis District and the Lower Mississippi River Conservation Committee (LMRCC), the non-federal sponsor, was conducted to examine and address problems, opportunities, and solution-viability associated with Mississippi River ecosystem degradation along the Hatchie-Loosahatchie River reach, miles 775-736.

The study included side channels and other aquatic habitat; floodplain forests; and several scarce vegetative communities including wetlands, canebrakes, riverfront forests and BLH forests. The study's findings and recommended measures for restoration culminate in the Chief’s Report, which was signed and recommended to Congress for consideration, Aug. 12, 2024.

Chief's Report: Hatchie-Loosahatchie Mississippi River Ecosystem Restoration Study

Eight Priority Reaches

Wolf Island to Island 8 Reach RM 946 – 910 (36 mi.)
Hatchie/Loosahatchie Reach RM 775 – 736 (39 mi)
Islands 62/63 RM Reach 650 - 618 (32 mi.)
Arkansas River Reach RM 599 – 556 (43 mi.)
Possum (Worthington-Pittman) Reach RM 524 – 490 (34 mi.)
Palmyra River Reach RM 431 – 398 (33 mi.)
Lake Mary Reach RM 360 -322 (38 mi.)
Raccourci Cutoff Reach RM 300 -265 (35 mi.)

These reaches were chosen because they may provide valuable habitat for rare species; they each contain a channel crossing; the batture is wide in the reach; and there is a concentration of previously identified potential projects. This study is the first of these priority reaches to be investigated. In 2019, the LMRCC submitted a Letter of Intent to Sponsor the Hatchie/Loosahatchie Feasibility Study beginning in the FY 2021 Budget. A Feasibility Cost Share Agreement (FCSA) was signed, and funding was received in 2021 to begin the Hatchie/Loosatatchie, Mississippi River Mile 775–736 Habitat Restoration, TN & AR Feasibility Study.