Hinds Today

U.S. Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith has announced a significant development for the Yazoo Backwater Area flood control project. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Vicksburg District has signed a Record of Decision (ROD), paving the way for the project's preconstruction, engineering, and design phase. This project aims to address flood risks in a 630,000-acre region of the South Delta.

Hyde-Smith, who has advocated for this initiative since severe flooding affected the area in 2019, expressed optimism about moving forward with construction efforts. "The people of the South Delta who have waited decades for flood protection can do a little jig today because we can now move from shuffling papers and studies to getting shovels in the ground," she stated. She acknowledged that there is still much work ahead but emphasized that progress is being made.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently determined that the final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) released last November is not subject to previous Clean Water Act vetoes that had halted earlier attempts to advance this project. This decision enabled the Army Corps to issue the ROD and proceed with plans developed in coordination with EPA and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

The plan includes installing pumps to reduce flood risk for communities within the Yazoo Backwater Area while securing measures to mitigate impacts on wetland resources. Hyde-Smith highlighted her commitment to securing necessary funding through her role on the Senate appropriations subcommittee responsible for funding the Army Corps.

"A lot of agencies had to agree to get to the Record of Decision, but the people of Mississippi most affected by flooding deserve good credit for their patience and fortitude over the years," Hyde-Smith remarked. She affirmed her readiness as a senator to ensure this project reaches completion.