VICKSBURG, Miss. – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Vicksburg District has entered into a Feasibility Agreement (FA) with the City of Batesville, Mississippi, as part of the Continuing Authorities Program (CAP).
The signing ceremony was held at the Batesville Mounds Complex Museum on May 22, 2025, with Batesville Mayor, Hal Ferrell, and Vicksburg District Commander, Col. Jeremiah Gipson, both signing the FA.
“Preserving our nation's history and protecting vital infrastructure go hand in hand. Through this partnership with the City of Batesville, we are taking decisive action to safeguard the Batesville Mounds for future generations while reinforcing the stability of the Tallahatchie River banks,” Col. Gipson said. “The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers remains committed to working alongside local leaders to ensure that these historic sites and the communities surrounding them remain resilient and secure.”
The City of Batesville’s project includes the protection of the historic Batesville Mounds, though a CAP Section 107 Emergency Streambank Stabilization project. This will protect the area from further erosion and bank caving impacts due to the adjacent Tallahatchie River. The Batesville Mounds are a Native American mound complex consisting of four mounds and two village areas situated in the northwestern corner of the City of Batesville, Mississippi, Dating between A.D. 1 and 400. This project was selected by the Assistant Secretary of the Army, Civil Works (ASA(CW)) as a new start through Section 165(a) of the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) 2020. This eliminates the cost share for the project making the project 100% federally funded.
The Continuing Authorities Program (CAP) allows USACE to respond more quickly than is possible through the specific congressional authorization process. This is because Congress has delegated to USACE general authority to study and, if feasible, approve and construct certain water resources development projects. The program is comprised of eight different types of projects applicable to the Vicksburg District, each with its own project authority and strict federal contribution limit.
The USACE Vicksburg District is engineering solutions to the nation’s toughest challenges. The Vicksburg District encompasses a 68,000-square-mile area across portions of Mississippi, Arkansas and Louisiana that holds nine major river basins and incorporates approximately 460 miles of mainline Mississippi River levees. The Vicksburg District is engaged in hundreds of projects and employs approximately 1,100 personnel.
USACE Celebrates 250 Years - For 250 years, the Corps of Engineers has been working to safely deliver quality projects on schedule and within budget. As we move forward, USACE continues to look to the future as we address today’s challenges.