The USACE's Pearl River Flood Risk Management planning document proposes two main Alternatives for Jackson flood risk management: Alternative D (damming and excavating the river, price tag $500-650 million) or Alternative A1 (non-structural elevations and floodproofing, price tag $50 million). Why is Alternative D so expensive? That plan includes funding to build a new dam, not for flood control but to create a lake for economic development. Alternative D's budget includes hundreds of millions for required environmental mitigation, bridge countermeasures, and for building the new dam, new pumping stations and slurry walls to protect the current levees. Instead of funding flood risk management for our tributaries, Alternative D prioritizes a new lake and commercial development in the flood plain.
At the USACE public meeting in Slidell on July 11, residents asked the Corps of Engineers and the Rankin-Hinds Pearl River Flood and Drainage Control District about whether there would be new development along the dammed lake. Their answers conflict. Read the transcript excerpt here: JACK SESSIONS (private citizen): Now, I ask them today is there going to be houses out there –- are y’all going to let houses be built on these lakes? Can anybody answer that? UNIDENTIFIED SPEAKER: That’s a yes. JACK SESSIONS (private citizen): Because they said from day one that this was strictly going to be flood control, no houses whatsoever. So at the last meeting, I asked that and nobody can answer it. So today, I’m asking it again: are y’all going to let houses be built on this? BRANDON DAVIS (USACE): So to answer your questions, the Corps of Engineers is not –- I guess we’re not going to allow houses to be built on that. That land is going to be acquired through our real estate easements arm. The recreation that we’re talking about is boat ramps, bike paths, things of that nature. So the Corps of Engineers is not in the business of residential development or anything of that nature, so that’s –- I wouldn’t see that being there. JACK SESSIONS (private citizen): So no houses? Okay. TOM SHAW (USACE): Thank you. HOWARD PAGE (private citizen): Yes, sir. My name’s Howard Page, and a question that was asked just before this gentleman spoke –- I would like –- I saw that the gentleman from Rankin-Hinds, the local sponsor, I would like him to answer the question: are any houses going to be built because of this project? My understanding has always been absolutely, yes, this is absolutely a real estate development project. And so I was wondering if we could hear directly from you, if you agree. No one ever thought the Corps was going to build houses, so that really wasn’t the answer I was looking for. So I was wondering if this gentleman could answer that question. UNIDENTIFIED SPEAKER: Good job. KEITH TURNER (Rankin-Hinds Pearl River Flood and Drainage Control Disctrict): So first off, this has never been a real estate project, contrary to what many people say. This has always been a flood risk management project from the very beginning, but we’ve also stated from the very beginning that if there are ancillary benefits such as recreation or others, or some economic development, that’s a good thing for the city of Jackson. So there are no plans right now. There are no specific plans for any development of any sort. What we envision is that the communities that this project has improved as a result of the lake, that a planning process would occur with the communities to develop three areas specifically. One would be, obviously, recreational areas, natural areas, and then some areas would be opportunities for economic development. That area under D is much smaller than it was under C, but again, there’s no specific plans of any sort. And one thing that’s really important to understand is that the property acquisition, as Brandon mentioned, would be controlled by these parties right here. We’re responsible, as local sponsors, to actually acquire the property, and it would be controlled by us, and it would not be windfalls for developers of any sort. But specifically, the three areas –- recreation, natural, and some economic development. HOWARD PAGE (private citizen): So basically, yes, there is potential for development? UNIDENTIFIED SPEAKERS: (Multiple voices) Yes. KEITH TURNER (Rankin-Hinds Pearl River Flood and Drainage Control District): Yes. Yes, if it’s possible, there may be some development there. Now, I didn’t say houses and things, no –- there’s nothing planned of any sort. I’d be glad to talk with you in more detail outside and I can show you those specific areas. They’re not that large, and you know, whether they occur or not, I think it depends on whether the economy supports this thing or not. |
AuthorPearl Riverkeeper is a licensed member of the Waterkeeper Alliance, the largest and fastest growing nonprofit solely focused on clean water. Archives
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