A Petition for Flood Relief for the Jackson, Mississippi, Metro
The Decision-Makers in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Rankin-Hinds Pearl River Flood and Drainage Control District
Residents of the Jackson, Mississippi, metropolitan area need flood relief, and Congress authorized the Pearl River Basin Flood Risk Management Project as a response. Affluent special interests in Mississippi have used their influence to steer this flood relief project to promote a new lake on the Pearl River.
The proposed new lake is environmentally destructive and vehemently opposed by downstream communities. Moreover, the Corps has acknowledged that the new lake will not provide flood relief and will cost well over $100 million. Nonetheless, the Corps and the project's local sponsor, the Rankin-Hinds Pearl River Flood and Drainage Control District, continue to promote the plan as a solution to flooding.
Help us tell these agencies: FOCUS ON FLOOD RELIEF
Petition by
Sponsored by
To:
The Decision-Makers in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Rankin-Hinds Pearl River Flood and Drainage Control District
From:
[Your Name]
YOU HAVE A DECISION TO MAKE. The project you are administering, the Pearl River Flood Risk Management Project, is a massive investment authorized by Congress to reduce flood damages in the Jackson Metropolitan Area. You could use it to improve the lives of thousands of residents and alleviate the suffering caused by events like the floods of early 2020, or you could pursue a lake.
YOU COULD PURSUE ANOTHER LAKE PROPOSAL FOR RECREATION AND REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENT THAT YOU HAVE ACKNOWLEDGED PROVIDES NO FLOOD RELIEF. This decision will require more studies to understand the impacts of the new lake, more Congressional lobbying to fund and justify the new lake, and continued antagonism of the downstream municipalities, counties, and parishes, whose lands and livelihoods are threatened by further deterioration of the Pearl River. OR, YOU COULD FOCUS ON FLOOD RELIEF FOR THE JACKSON METROPOLITAN AREA.
WE PETITION THAT YOU FOCUS ON FLOOD RELIEF.
WE PETITION THAT YOU PROPOSE A NEW PLAN PROTECTING HOMES, BUSINESSES, AND CRITICAL FACILITIES FROM NORTHEAST JACKSON TO BYRAM AND WEST JACKSON TO RICHLAND.
WE PETITION THAT PROPOSED PLANS LEVERAGE PROJECT FUNDS FULLY BUT STAY WITHIN THE PROJECT’S COST LIMITS.
WE PETITION YOU TO COOPERATE WITH OTHER STATE AND FEDERAL AGENCIES ENGAGED IN FLOOD DAMAGE REDUCTION FOR THE JACKSON AREA TO COMPLEMENT THE PROJECT’S PURPOSE.
WE PETITION THAT PROPOSED PLANS RESPECT THE LAND & LIVELIHOODS OF DOWNSTREAM COMMUNITIES.
WE PETITION THAT YOU SHOW US, RESIDENTS OF THE PEARL RIVER BASIN AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC, YOUR PROPOSALS AND THE FACTS BEHIND EACH BEFORE YOU DECIDE ON HOW TO IMPLEMENT THE PROJECT.