Alternative E1 (without dam)

Alternative E1 (without dam) includes:

• ​Excavation of 954 acres along 9 miles of the Pearl River
• Non-structural elements of A1 (elevations and floodproofing)
• Canton Club, McLeod, Cany Creek, and Richland Levees
• Recreation features

2025 USACE Revised DEIS Summary: "Of the remaining implementable alternatives assessed, the Alternative E1 (without weir) minimizes implementation risks, maximizes the difference between monetized benefits and costs, and satisfies the USACE Planning Principles and Guidelines (P&G) criteria of completeness, effectiveness, efficiency, and acceptability. Accordingly, the Alternative E1 without weir could be considered the preliminary NED plan." (The NED plan is the one that reasonably maximizes net benefits across all relevant categories)

COSTS	Alternative D1
Project First Cost*	$708-$753 million*
Average Annual Cost (Investment + Maintenance)	$29-$30.8 million
Total Benefits (Damages Reduced + Recreation Benefits)	$25.2 million
Net Benefits	(-$3.8 million--$5.6 million)
Benefit Cost Ratio	0.9-0.8
Local Cost Share	$247-$263 million, plus $200k annual costs

​*The USACE Section 902 Maximum Project Cost Limit recalculated for FY2025 is $475,688,000

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Features

Excavation

2025 USACE RDEIS

954 acres would be excavated along the Pearl River from River Mile 285 to River Mile 294 to improve water conveyance. The width of excavation would range from 500-2,600 feet and depth from 0-13 feet. The USACE predicts that excavation would provide reduction of flood elevations within the excavation area and for over 8 miles upstream. 

Excavated fill would be placed in designated disposal areas on the protected and unprotected side of existing levees as well as other locations within the flood plain. The disposal fill areas would cover 523 acres with 9.38 MCY (million cubic yards) of excavated fill. The excavated fill material would be used to create land areas ranging from 3-93 acres. The newly created areas could allow for expanded riverfront access, natural areas, along with recreational opportunities. Up to 1.6 MCY of fill (100 acres of fill 10 feet high) would be provided to the Rankin-Hinds Pearl River Flood and Drainage Control District for additional usage within the project area. (2025 USACE RDEIS, Appendix E, p 48-49)

Levees

LEVEE	Location	Length	Structures Protected	Area Protected	Benefit/Cost
Canton Club	NE Jackson	1.4 miles	over 250 homes	100 acres	4.2
McLeod	NE Jackson	2.3 miles	415 homes	170 acres	0.9
Cany Creek	S Jackson	1 mile	40 homes	137 acres	0.3
Richland	E Bank of Pearl	1.15 miles	40 structures	122 acres	0.1
TOTAL	-	5.85 miles	745+ structures	529 acres	-

Note: 2 homes at the riverbank will need to be acquired for McLeod Levee construction. Other levees may require public and private infrastructure relocation. source: 2025 USACE RDEIS, pages 131-133

Canton Club Levee

McLeod Levee

Cany Creek Levee

​Non-Structural Component

Alternative E1 would include the non-structural components of Alternative A1. 

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The following options were removed from the list of potential features:

• Clean out and sustained maintenance of tributaries: The USACE reports that this feature was removed upon identifying that this work is being undertaken by the NRCS, State and other local entities through the Mississippi Watershed projects.
• Levee setbacks: This feature was determined by USACE to provide limited flood risk reduction benefits

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Adverse Impacts

Relocations or Removal Actions Required:

• Relocating 4-5 utility transmission lines
• Mitigating potential HTRW (Hazardous, Toxic, Radiological Waste Sites) and other hazardous waste sites within the floodplain. USACE is prohibited from undertaking HTRW work on behalf of the Rankin Hinds Pearl River Flood and Drainage Control District (the Non Federal Sponsor). "Consideration may be given to designating an HTRW avoidance alternative as the National Economic Development plan when costs and risks of response actions are uncertain." 2024 DEIS, PDF pages 94-95.         

High Cost of Alt E1:

• Projected First Cost for Alt E1: $708-$753 million
• Maximum Project Cost Limit: $475 million (*An increase in the authorized project cost would require approval from Congress)
• Current Federal Cost Share Appropriation: $221 million (appropriated in Oct 2022)

Costs to Rankin Hinds Pearl River Flood and Drainage Control District, the Non Federal Sponsor (NFS):

• The local Drainage District, Rankin-Hinds Pearl River Flood and Drainage Control District, shall contribute 35 percent of total project costs. (Source: 2024 Commander's Report, pages 13 and 14)  The Drainage District has not indicated how they will pay for their portion of the project costs. 
• The local Drainage District is solely responsible for 100% of the costs for remediation of the Hazardous, Toxic, Radiological Waste (HTRW) Sites in the project area, including the costs of any studies and investigations.
• The local Drainage District shall acquire the real property interests that the Government has determined are required for the construction, operation, and maintenance of the Project. 
• The local Drainage District shall perform or ensure the performance of the relocations necessary for construction, operation, and maintenance of the Project 
• In addition, the local Drainage District will be responsible for Estimated Annual Operation and Maintenance Costs of $200,000/year. Local Drainage District revenues are obtained through a 4.75-mil tax assessment on properties protected by the levee system. The majority of the tax revenue comes from properties located in Rankin County. The state-owned properties on the Jackson side of the Pearl River do not pay taxes.

Harm to endangered and threatened species: Threatened, endangered, and protected species that will by negatively impacted by Alternative E1 include the Gulf sturgeon, Pearl River map turtle, ringed sawback turtle, alligator snapping turtle, LA pigtoe mussel, tricolored bat, monarch butterfly, and bald eagle.

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Pearl Riverkeeper asks that everyone make his or her own decision regarding the Pearl River Flood Risk Management Project using sound science and engineering.  We encourage the review and thorough analysis of all available information.  We welcome comments and feedback.  Please email Pearl Riverkeeper or visit our Facebook  for comment space.  Our publishing, or re-publishing, of anyone else's research or opinions is not an endorsement on our part of those conclusions.