HOLLY BLUFF, Miss.–Money for beginnings of the Yazoo Backwater Pumps project has been appropriated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, along with money for 30 other projects, many of those in the Delta, said Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith, Thursday.
The Army Corps has directed more than $136 million for the projects, including $32 million for the pumps, the project now called the Yazoo Backwater Area Water Management Project.
“I am very pleased with the Army Corps FY25 Work Plan funding, which will strengthen Mississippi’s levees, keep our ports and waterways operational, and support critical infrastructure improvements that are already underway,” said Hyde-Smith, who serves on the Senate appropriations subcommittee, which funds the Corps.
Other projects that are getting federal money include $13 million for Arkabutla Lake, which needs attention because of a defect found in 2023 in the dam, which is being continuously monitored by the Corps; more than $1 million for maintenance at Greenville Harbor; $6 million each for Grenada, Enid and Sardis lakes and $350,000 for maintenance at the Big Sunflower River.
“This funding will also help our state prepare for whatever Mother Nature throws at us,” the Senator added. “Last fall, the Mississippi River fell to near-record low levels, which caused severe disruptions to barge traffic and waterborne commerce. Just last month, the Mississippi River swelled to its 10th highest water level since the Flood of 1927, leaving nearly 200,000 acres of land underwater in the South Mississippi Delta.”
But, the project that Hyde-Smith seemed most pleased to see funded was the Yazoo Backwater. The $32 million will go toward design, engineering and pre-construction.
“We reached a significant milestone in January when the Corps signed a Record of Decision for the new Yazoo Backwater pumps plan, completing an exhaustive environmental review process and paving the way for the next key stages of making this project a reality,” said Hyde-Smith.
“I’m pleased the Corps agreed with my argument that there is more than sufficient funding in the Mississippi Rivers and Tributaries account to move this project forward.”
