USACE Vicksburg District Mat Sinking Unit Forges Ahead With Revetment Mission

VICKSBURG, Miss – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Vicksburg District’s Mat Sinking Unit (MSU) kicked off the 79^th annual revetment season on the Mississippi River, on Thursday, November 6, 2025.

The MSU places hundreds of thousands of articulated concrete mats, also known as revetment, along the Mississippi River to protect flood control works, prevent riverbank erosion, and provide navigable waterways for commercial transportation. The unit’s work spans the jurisdictions of the Memphis, Vicksburg, and New Orleans districts and more than 950 river miles. 

Vicksburg District Commander Jeremiah Gipson emphasized that the revetment mission is crucial to ensure reliable, navigable waterways. “Revetment operations are essential for maintaining safe navigation for commercial traffic and reducing flood risks for communities. Protecting the Mississippi and River Tributaries levee system is vital and keeps the river on a consistent path,” Gipson said. “If we don’t accomplish our mission, erosion will change the shape of the river and make it more difficult for commercial navigation while increasing flood risks to our regional towns and cities.”

Revetment Branch Chief John Mark Henderson noted that launching the recent revetment season was challenging in new ways and commended the crew for their commitment to pushing forward with the mission. “We appreciate the patience of the crew. Their work is crucial to keeping the river navigable and it is a great service to this nation. Working through this season’s challenges adds an element of higher dedication.”

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.

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.