A few days ago the Sun Herald published an article about possibly damming the Pascagoula River in reference to what is known as the Lake George project. As you can guess by the name, George County and its supervisors are at the center of this. Since the article, I have rightfully been contacted about this and the disastrous effects, if true, it would have on the Pascagoula River. As we all know, the undammed Pascagoula River is one of OUR and the COUNTRY'S treasures. Any attempt to alter it, is "fightin' words" as they say.
A constituent shared with me the application for the project:
He went on to explain that the project is one that the George County Supervisors and delegation has pushed for quite some time and that they see it as economic development to their area. He also explained that Chevron and the Port of Pascagoula would benefit because of the guaranteed water level. The details, including the environmental impact and wetlands impact, can be found in the full application here. Per the application, the Jackson County Supervisors are a co-applicant. I asked whether notice and comment periods were had on the project and he stated a public meeting was held in George County a couple of months ago and that they are ready, willing and able to have one in Jackson County when requested by the Jackson County Board of Supervisors. Taking that a step further, I did a quick Google search and found the following:
Dam the Pascagoula? | Jackson County | The Sun Herald
www.sunherald.com/2015/09/14/.../dam-the-pascagoula.html
Sun Herald
4 days ago - He said flow rates for the Pascagoula River are improved by rainfall in ...Supervisor Troy Ross said he believed Lake George would provide ...
You visited this page on 9/18/15.
Editorial: Some answers needed about twin lakes - Sun ...
www.sunherald.com/.../sun-herald-editorial-some-answers.ht...
Sun Herald
3 days ago - One supervisor said the board supports the concept of a lake but doesn't... We, too, have nothing against a lake or two in George County but we have questions. The biggest question is how will it affect the Pascagoula River if the Big ... been chosen for the dams but the notice clearly has two sites in mind.
Lake George $50,000,000 does this make sense? In ... - Topix
www.topix.com/forum/city/wade-ms/TGK0KE0BLI5H03B7J?print=1
Feb 25, 2012 - They are calling it a reservoir to put water in the Pascagoula Riverwhen a drought comes. The County supervisors said, in case of a drought ...
A Lake in Disguise for George County? | Gulf Restoration ...
www.healthygulf.org/blog/lake-disguise-george-county
Apr 10, 2013 - One presentation focused on the George County Lake project. ... a 5200 acre water supply lake would dam a yet undisclosed Pascagoula River ...
Missing: supervisors
[PDF]
www.sam.usace.army.mil/.../SAM...
United States Army Corps of Engineers
Sep 4, 2015 - MAINTAINING PASCAGOULA RIVER FLOW RESILIENCY DURING PROLONGED. SEVERE ... IN COOPERATION WITH: George County Board ofSupervisors ... It is anticipated that the Lower Lake's dam/spillway footprint ...
In the highly scientific area of Google searches, it appears that there have been at least some newspaper articles on this.
As Senator, rest assured that I will continue to stay focused on this issue and make sure that we protect this great resource. I will also do everything in my legislative and chairman capacity to halt this project should the motives or results change from what was described above. I would further add that when state entities like the Pat Harrison Waterway Distirct (entities that only exist by virtue of state law) are called upon to assist counties and municipalities, it would be good policy to inform state legislators of the projects and plans. In this case, no one from the Jackson County Board of Supervisors, Chevron or the Port of Pascagoula informed me of the project; I cannot speak for others. Citizens always have a right to know what their government agencies are planning and doing.
Feel free to comment on this post or contact me via social media, letter or phone on this issue or any other.
One of the selling points for Eco-tourism in Jackson County is the undamned Pascagoula River. The fact it is a wild untamed river is what the tourist come to see. Creating two man made lakes in George County, by placing dams on it's tributaries does indeed have a negative impact on the Pascagoula River.
ReplyDeleteI would also be concerned about flooding of homes downstream from the Rivers in question. As a former resident of Meridian I am all too familiar with the negative impact the creation of Okatibbee Lake had on homes down stream. Many of the homeowners downstream of Okatibbee Lake after experiencing years of flooding were forced to sell their homes to the government or raise them at great expense.
Senator Brice Wiggins has conceded that it is not only OK but better to tame the Pascagoula. He should realize that first of all these dams won't tame the Pascagoula because they will fail to deliver flow water in a drought except at the very beginning of a drought and also because when we get flooding rain the dam will have to be opened in an uncontrolled way that will wreak havoc on property owners downstream and wash away river banks and trees on a scale not seen by the wild river. And no one is going to be responsible for the damage to the river after it happens. No one will lose his or her job, no one will have his or her home destroyed unless that person is downstream of this dam and unlucky enough to be in the path of the flood waters. If either of the dams fail during some exceptional rain event no one who designed or built it will go to jail or have to pay anything. No one at the Pat Harrison Waterway district will be declared guilty of anything. If the FEMA insurance goes up downstream of the dam no George County Supervisor, no politician anywhere, no official will make up the difference to homeowners saddled with new higher payments. Too bad. All of it is just too bad.
ReplyDeleteWe must stop these dams from going in. We need a public hearing; we need objections sent to the US army corps of engineers, those who can complain to their politicians must complain and make them care about this terrible idea. Senator Brice Wiggins doesn't seem to realize that any damages from these lakes will disproportionately affect Jackson County citizens from flooding below the dams and also from the water that is held in these two reservoirs normally should flow down to our estuary and fertilize it to support fish, shrimp, crabs and oysters. Instead two muddy lakes will lie evaporating in the sun starving the Mississippi Sound of needed fecundity.