Yazoo Backwater Documents

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Update November 29, 2024: Final EIS for Yazoo Backwater Study Area Documents

00 NoticeOfAval FEIS Yazoo.pdf ...
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01 Final YBW EIS 0936 22Nov2024.pdf ...
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02 Appendix A - Engineering Report H_H.pdf ...
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03 Appendix B- Public Comments - Updated 22Jan2025.pdf ...
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04 Appendix C- State and Govt Agency Comments - Updated 22Jan2025.pdf ...
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05 Appendix D Part 1 - Prime and Unique Farmland.pdf ...
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06 Appendix D Part 2- USFWS Coordination Act Report - Updated 22Jan2025.pdf ...
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07 Appendix E - Programatic Agreement - Updated 22Jan2025.pdf ...
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08 Appendix F-1 - Cultural Resources.pdf ...
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09 Appendix F-2 - Hazardous, Toxic, and Radioactive Waste.pdf ...
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10 Appendix F-3 - Wetlands.pdf ...
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11 Appendix F-4 Terrestrial Wildlife.pdf ...
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12 Appendix F-5 Waterfowl.pdf ...
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13 Appendix F-6 - Aquatic Resources and Fisheries.pdf ...
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14 Appendix G - Threatened and Endangered Species.pdf ...
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15 Appendix H - Water Quality.pdf ...
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16 Appendix I - Section 404_b_1 Evaluation.pdf ...
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17 Appendix J-Compensatory Mitigation Plan.pdf ...
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18 Appendix K – Monitoring and Adaptive Management.pdf ...
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19 MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT - Compensatory Mitigation.pdf ...
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20 MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT - Monitoring and Adaptive Management.pdf ...
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21 MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT - Pump Operations Plan.pdf ...
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July 16, 2024: Virtual Public Meeting Presentation, Video and Documents

Draft Environmental Impact Statement - June 2024

000 Draft EIS Main Document.pdf ...
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001 Appendix A - Engineering Report.pdf ...
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002 Appendix B - Public Comments.pdf ...
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003 Appendix C - State and Agency Comments.pdf ...
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004 Appendix D-1 - Prime and Unique Farmland.pdf ...
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005 Appendix D-2 - Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act Report.pdf ...
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006 Appendix E - Programmatic Agreement.pdf ...
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007 Appendix F-1 - Cultural Resources.pdf ...
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008 Appendix F-2 - Hazardous, Toxic, and Radioactive Waste.pdf ...
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009 Appendix F-3 - Wetlands.pdf ...
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010 Appendix F-4 Terrestrial Wildlife.pdf ...
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011 Appendix F-5 - Waterfowl.pdf ...
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012 Appendix F-6 - Aquatic Resources and Fisheries.pdf ...
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013 Appendix G - Threatened and Endangered Species.pdf ...
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014 Appendix H – Water Quality.pdf ...
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015 Appendix I - Section 404(b)(1) Evaluation.pdf ...
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016 Appendix J - Compensatory Mitigation Plan.pdf ...
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017 Appendix K - M&.pdf ...
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Appendix Cover Page.pdf ...
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Yazoo Backwater Study Area Frequently Asked Questions

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Q. How was the proposal developed?

The US Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) have been coordinating with the US Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) and the US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) since scoping this proposal and have provided opportunities for public input at in-person meetings and via written comment.
The Corps has sought to ensure that interested parties had an opportunity to be heard as the draft environmental impact statement (DEIS) for the Yazoo Backwater Study Area (YSA) project was developed. Through this current public comment period on the draft, we are working to ensure all interested parties can review the proposed water management plan and provide their input.
Through the interagency coordination with USEPA and USFWS, the Corps enabled each agency to leverage their respective knowledge, expertise, data, tools, and authorities to craft responsive solutions addressing the diverse challenges presented by the persistent flooding of the YSA, including the local community’s experiences during and after the 2019 flooding event.

Q. What will the Corps do with the comments received? Will we receive responses to our comments?

The Corps will review all comments and provide summaries and responses that will be included in a Public Involvement Report. The final EIS will reflect any changes made as a result of public comments, as appropriate.

Q. When does the comment period for the draft environmental impact statement close?

The comment period closes on August 12, 2024, 45 days after the release of the DEIS.

Q. When will the EIS be finalized?

The timeline will depend on the nature of the comments received and the need, if any, for additional analysis. However, the intent is to finalize the EIS and a Record of Decision later this year. The current public outreach process will inform the decision as to which alternative will be chosen.

Q. Why has it taken the Corps so long to issue this DEIS?

Addressing flooding in the Yazoo Study Area in a scientifically valid way that avoids, minimizes, and mitigates impacts to important ecological resources is a priority. The Corps worked through a collaborative interagency process with USEPA and USFWS to leverage each agency’s knowledge, expertise, data, tools, and authorities to craft responsive solutions addressing the diverse challenges presented by the persistent flooding of the YSA.
Due to the high degree of public interest in the community related to the flooding and to prior proposals, the Corps elected to engage intensely with the public prior to drafting the Notice of Intent to Conduct Scoping and again prior to drafting the DEIS.

Meeting Transcripts

050423 ARMY CORPS MEETING 2 PM Full.pdf ...
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050423 ARMY CORPS MEETING 6 PM Full.pdf ...
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050523 ARMY CORPS MEETING Full.pdf ...
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A graphical map depicting the 4,093 square miles in the Yazoo Backwater Area

Flood Protection Authorization
The Flood Control Acts of 1941, 1950, Section 3(b)); 1944 (Section 10); 1965 (Section 204); Water Resources Development Act (WRDA)1986, Section 103; WRDA 1996, Section 202 authorized the YBW to protect a portion of the Yazoo Basin against all but large floods from the Mississippi River.
The congressional actions authorized the Yazoo Backwater Project to provide protection from higher stages on the Mississippi River resulting from the removal of the Eudora Floodway Project in Arkansas and Louisiana from the Mississippi River and Tributaries (MR&T) Project.

A graphical depiction of the drainage in the Yazoo Backwater area.

The Preferred Alternative Plan
The Yazoo Backwater Area has flooded for nine out of the last 10 years. The Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works (ASA(CW)) tasked the Vicksburg District with developing a plan that will curb flooding that damages businesses, property, and disrupts wildlife. The Preferred Alternative plan includes a 25,000 cubic feet per second pumping plant, new water management of backwater flooding (90 feet NGVD during crop season and 93 feet NGVD during non-crop season), nonstructural features such as optional buyouts and/or floodproofing, and adaptive monitoring and management approaches.

Timeline
9 January 2023:
USACE received a “Joint Memorandum of Collaboration Between the U.S. Department of the Army for Civil Works (CW) and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency” dually signed by the ASA and EPA outlining a five-month plan to address flood risk in the Yazoo Backwater area. During the five-month planning phase, technical teams comprised of MVK, ERDC, EPA, and USFWS collaborated to develop a preferred alternative, which was announced in a series of public sessions on 4-5 May 2023.
(pics from the public sessions)

7 July 2023:
Public comments were incorporated into the Preferred Alternative and published in a Notice of Intent (NOI).
Ongoing:
The Vicksburg District will continue to collaborate with cooperating agencies to analyze project impacts and evaluate alternatives that will be incorporated into an Environmental Impact Statement.

(NOI)
Public comments were accepted on the Notice of Intent. A high-level comment summary is provided below.
Next Steps:
The Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) is scheduled to be published in May 2024, with the Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) expected November 2024.

A photo of the recent Yazoo Backwater Project public meeting with numerous attendees.

Yazoo Backwater Area Community Listening Session - May 2023

A photo of the recent Yazoo Backwater Area public meeting with numerous attendees.

Yazoo Backwater Public Meeting - Feb 2023