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Vicksburg District advances priority Yazoo Backwater Area Water Management Project
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Vicksburg District is making meaningful progress toward implementation of the Yazoo Backwater Area Water Management Project.
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Vicksburg District advances priority Yazoo Backwater Area Water Management Project. VICKSBURG, Miss. (VDN) — The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Vicksburg District is making meaningful progress toward implementation of the Yazoo Backwater Area Water Management Project, advancing critical mitigation requirements and strengthening interagency coordination needed to move the project forward.
The Vicksburg District led an interagency coordination meeting on Sept. 1 to fulfill coordination and partnering requirements established by three memoranda of agreement and advance implementation of the project. Hosted by Ducks Unlimited at its National Headquarters in Memphis, the meeting brought together representatives from the Vicksburg District, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
“As we approach the 100-year anniversary of the Great Flood of 1927, which spawned the Mississippi River and Tributaries project, now is the time to finish what we started in 1928 with the Yazoo Pumps,” said Adam Telle, Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works. “This Yazoo Backwater project is a priority for the Trump Administration, and we are seeing the results of that focus under the U.S. Army’s Civil Works’s ‘Building Infrastructure, Not Paperwork’ initiative. Prioritizing projects and working closely with our partners means we will keep our communities safe from dangerous flooding and help promote major commerce in the area for our fellow Americans.”
The meeting highlighted the partnership with Ducks Unlimited and the award of the second compensatory mitigation contract for the Yazoo Backwater Area Management Water Project. This $41 million contract follows an initial $15 million contract, bringing the total investment to $56 million toward purchasing more than half of the environmental credits required before construction can begin.
“This milestone reflects what can be accomplished when dedicated partners come together around a shared commitment to people and the landscape,” said James Austin, Ducks Unlimited Director of Conservation Programs, Mississippi Alluvial Valley. “Through our work with the Corps, federal agencies and local stakeholders, we’re advancing solutions that reduce flood impacts on communities while delivering meaningful conservation benefits for wetlands and wildlife. These investments demonstrate that resilient communities and healthy ecosystems go hand in hand.”
Participants emphasized the value of ongoing coordination among project parters. Regular communication between the USACE, Ducks Unlimited, federal resource agencies and other stakeholders has helped maintain momentum, address technical questions and identify solutions that balance flood-risk reduction with environmental stewardship. This collaborative approach has been instrumental in advancing key milestones and keeping the project moving forward.
“This progress demonstrates what is possible when federal agencies, local stakeholders and our non-governmental partners work together toward a common goal,” said Col. Jeremiah Gipson, Vicksburg District commander. “Ducks Unlimited and our federal partners have played an important role in moving this project forward, helping us turn years of planning and coordination into tangible results for the people of the Yazoo Backwater area.”
The Yazoo Backwater Area has faced long-standing flooding issues, particularly during high stages of the Mississippi River, leading to significant impacts on local communities, environmental habitats, agricultural lands and infrastructure. The plan improves safety, security and quality of life for the communities in the Yazoo Backwater area.
USACE remains committed to working with federal, state and local partners, communities and stakeholders throughout the design and implementation of the project to ensure the plan’s success in managing flood risks and enhancing the region’s resilience.
For further information on the plan and analysis, please visit: https://www.mvk.usace.army.mil/Missions/Programs-and-Project-Management/Yazoo-Backwater/.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Vicksburg District is engineering solutions to the nation’s toughest challenges while advancing its commitment to building infrastructure, not paperwork. The district delivers vital missions across a 68,000-square-mile area spanning portions of Mississippi, Arkansas, and Louisiana. Its area of responsibility includes nine major river basins and approximately 460 miles of mainline Mississippi River levees, supporting flood risk reduction, navigation, environmental stewardship, and resilient infrastructure for the region.
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