Rankin Hinds Pearl River Flood and Drainage Control District
The Rankin Hinds Pearl River Flood and Drainage Control District ("the Drainage District") is an entity of the State of Mississippi, organized in 1962 under the Urban Flood and Drainage Control Law for the purpose of achieving flood and drainage control improvements. The Drainage District Board of Directors includes the Mayors of Flowood, Pearl, Jackson, and Richland, representatives from the Hinds and Rankin County Boards of Supervisors (Supervisors Robert Graham and Jay Bishop) and a Governor-appointee. The Governor-appointee position on the Board has been vacant since January 2021.
The Drainage District developed and published the 2018 "One Lake" Draft Environmental Impact Statement and is the "Non Federal Sponsor " (NFS), also known as the "Non Federal Interest" (NFI), for the USACE Pearl River Flood Risk Management Project.
The Drainage District developed and published the 2018 "One Lake" Draft Environmental Impact Statement and is the "Non Federal Sponsor " (NFS), also known as the "Non Federal Interest" (NFI), for the USACE Pearl River Flood Risk Management Project.
Fairgrounds and East Jackson Levee System, National Levee Database
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The Drainage District manages and maintains the levee systems on the Hinds and Rankin sides of the Pearl River completed in 1967 by the Corps of Engineers
The "Jackson-Fairgrounds Levee System" in Hinds County has an average height of 21 feet, an approximate length of 2 miles, and provides flood risk reduction to the eastern portion of Jackson. The "East Jackson Levee System" in Rankin County is approximately 13.5 feet tall, has an approximate length of 11.4 miles, and provides flood risk reduction to the towns of Pearl, Flowood, and Richland. |
Jackson Fairgrounds Levee
Click to view graphic on the National Levee Database website
East Jackson Levee
Click to view graphic on the National Levee Database website
Click to view Jackson Fairgrounds Levee Inspection Report
Click to view East Jackson Levee Inspection Report
Click to view East Jackson Levee Inspection Report
Pumping Stations
"East Jackson" pumping station in Rankin County at Neely Creek
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The "Fairgrounds" and "East Jackson" levees each have an adjustable gate and pumping station system. The gates allow water from tributaries to flow uninterrupted across the levee under normal conditions but prevent flood waters from entering the leveed area during storms. When the gates are closed and the flow cannot discharge naturally, the pumping stations are activated and stormwater is pumped over the levee to remove the water from within the leveed area. The "Fairgrounds" and "East Jackson" Levee gates typically close 5-10 times per year, when the Pearl River reaches 13 feet and 18 feet respectively. The pumping stations operate when the water storage areas behind the levees reach capacity.
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Aging Pumps
The "Fairgrounds" and "East Jackson" levees' pumping stations contain 4 pumps, 3 of which are the original pumps installed in the 1960s and one which was installed in the 1990s. Since 2020, the District Engineer has been advocating for replacing the pumps at both pumping stations. Parts for pumps no longer available and District has been having their parts built locally. Estimated cost to replace the 8 pumps is $7 million and lead time between ordering the pumps and installation is 50-65 weeks. In the case of pump failure, portable pumps can be rented for $7-8k/month/pump. 5-6 portable pumps are needed to equal one of the current pumps. The District has not currently obtained funding to purchase the needed pumps. |
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District Tax Revenues
District boundary in Hinds and Rankin counties. Properties within the boundary pay taxes to the District.
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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 District taxes. From 2017-2022, 37% of Total Flood Control Expenditures, $2.2 million, was spent on "the LeFleur Lakes Project", a study of several flood risk management plans for the Pearl River, including the "One Lake" Plan. The District is the local sponsor of the project.
Once a flood risk management project is approved, District boundaries and taxing authority will be expanded. MS House Bill 1585 (2017) gave the District authority to tax property owners who are “directly or indirectly benefitted by the project.” If the District boundaries are expanded, MS Senate Bill 2306 (2023) requires the District to enlarge the Board with additional representatives - one from the City of Jackson and one from Hinds County. |
Drainage District Financial Statements
Year |
Revenue (Rankin and Hinds County tax assessment, lease and interest income) |
Total Flood Control Expenditures |
"EIS Study-District legal fees", "LeFleur Lake Project" (flood risk management project study) |
"Levee repair", "Pump and equipment repairs" |
2017 |
$1,054,005 |
$228,027 (21.6% of total expenses) |
$236,053 |
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$887,418 |
$1,189,441 |
$622,447 (52.3% of total expenses) |
$73,250 |
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$1,204,083 |
$1,191,595 |
$545,056 (48.2% of total expenses) |
$99,749 |
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$936,307 |
$1,026,478 |
$276,140 (26.9% of total expenses) |
$221,959 |
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$996,226 |
$676,358 |
$164,269 (24.3% of total expenses) |
$50,984 |
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$1,011,311 |
$805,698 |
$333,837 (41.4% of total expenses) |
$94,217 |
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2023 |
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Drainage District Costs as the Non Federal Sponsor (NFS) for the Pearl River Flood Risk Management Project :
- The Non Federal Sponsor (NFS) shall contribute 35 percent of total project costs. The NFS shall not use Federal funds to meet its obligations. (source: Commander's Report, pages 13 and 14). Cost share for the the District-supported plan, Alt D (CTO w/weir), ranges from $140-$178 million. The $221 million Infrastructure, Investment, and Jobs Act funding obtained by Senator Wicker is federal funding that will be used for the federal cost-share of the project. The local Drainage District shall not use those funds for their cost-share. The Drainage District has not indicated how they will pay for their portion of the project costs.
- 100% of the costs for remediation of the Hazardous, Toxic, Radiological Waste (HTRW) Sites in the project area. The NFS shall be solely responsible for the performance and costs of cleanup of the HTRW, including the costs of any studies and investigations.
- The NFS shall acquire the real property interests that the Government has determined are required for the construction, operation, and maintenance of the Project.
- The NFS shall perform or ensure the performance of the relocations necessary for construction, operation, and maintenance of the Project
- In addition, the Drainage District will be responsible for Estimated Annual Operation and Maintenance Costs of $729,936-$891,122/year for Alt D (CTO with weir) or $196,976-$421,372/year for Alt E (CTO without weir). Local Levee Board 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.
