City of Jackson Tributary Flooding

Flash flooding is caused by heavy or excessive rainfall in a short period of time, generally less than 6 hours.​  Areas most susceptible to flash flooding are urban areas, low-lying area, storm drains, and culverts. This type of flooding is caused by a quick rise in the  water level of a river or creek.​  Several City of Jackson creeks, including Purple, Hanging Moss, White Oak, Eubanks, Town and Lynch Creeks are particularly susceptible to flash flooding.  Clogged or blocked storm drains, ditches and creeks can exacerbate flash flooding events by preventing the free flow of stormwater and causing creeks to overtop their banks into neighborhoods. 

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Purple Creek, White Oak Creek and Hanging Moss Creek

Report Purple, White Oak or Hanging Moss Creek Flooding

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Eubanks Creek

Report Eubanks Creek Flooding

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Town and Lynch Creek

Report Town or Lynch Creek Flooding

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Municipal Separate Stormwater System (MS4)

A Municipal Separate Stormwater System (MS4) is a system of storm drains, pipes and ditches designed to collect or convey stormwater.  This system is separate from the sanitary sewer system and is owned by a state, city, or town, village, or other public entity that discharges to waters of the U.S.. 

To prevent harmful pollutants from being washed or dumped into MS4s, operators are required to obtain National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits and develop stormwater management programs (SWMPs). The SWMP describes the stormwater control practices that will be implemented to minimize the discharge of pollutants.​  Non-stormwater discharges to the system are not authorized and are violations of the Clean Water Act. 

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Although the City of Jackson MS4 permit expired on June 30, 2017, conditions of their expired permit continue in effect until the MS Department of Environmental Quality Permit Board makes a final determination regarding reissuance of the permit. City of Jackson is required to submit MS4 annual reports. 

According to City of Jackson MS4 Annual Reports, the City is not in compliance with many of their MS4 permit requirements.  In violation of their permit, the City failed to submit 2021 or 2022 Annual Reports. View the available annual reports and (expired) permit here: 

City of Jackson MS4 Permit (Expired)
​City of Jackson MS4 Annual Report 2023
City of Jackson  MS4 Notice of Violation, Feb 2023
City of Jackson MS4 Annual Report 2022 (City did not complete a 2022 report)
City of Jackson MS4 Annual Report 2021 (City did not complete a 2021 report)
City of Jackson MS4 Annual Report 2020,  2019, 2018
City of Jackson Drainage Master Plan 2013

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The Dangers of Improper City Stormwater System Maintenance

• Flooding - Damage to public and private property
• Eroded Streambanks - Sediment clogs waterways, fills lakes, reservoirs, kills fish and aquatic animals
• Widened Stream Channels - Loss of valuable property
• Aesthetics - Dirty water, trash and debris, foul odors
• Fish and Aquatic Life - Impaired and destroyed
• Impaired Recreational Uses - Swimming, fishing, boating
• Threatens Public Health - Contamination of drinking water, fish/shellfish
• Threatens Public Safety - Drownings occur in flood waters
• Economic Impacts – Impairments to fisheries, shellfish, tourism, recreation related businesses
• Increased Cost of Water and Wastewater Treatment - Stormwater pollution increases raw water treatment costs and reduces the assimilative capacity of waterbodies.

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City of Jackson Tributaries, MS4 Outfall Inspection Locations and Ward Map

The City of Jackson MS4 stormwater permit identifies 120 "outfall" locations that must be screened for illicit discharges. The permit requires 1/5 of the outfalls to be screened each year. The 16 outfalls within the Hanging Moss Creek watershed must be screened annually. Click for full scale.

City of Jackson MS4 Annual Reports	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018
Illicit Discharges Detected	Unknown	Unknown	566	566	50
Illicit Discharges Eliminated	Unknown	Unknown	335 SSOs	335 SSOs	29

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