House Concurrent Resolution 9

(As Adopted by House and Senate)

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION TO REQUEST THE UNITED STATES ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS, THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY, THE MISSISSIPPI LEVEE BOARD AND THE YAZOO-MISSISSIPPI DELTA LEVEE BOARD TO TAKE ALL NECESSARY ACTIONS TO COMPLETE THE YAZOO BACKWATER PUMP PROJECT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

WHEREAS, the historic 2019 Backwater Flood inundated 548,000 acres in the Yazoo Backwater Area in Mississippi, including 231,000 acres (856 square miles) of crop land, 686 homes and three highways with flood water, and because of this catastrophic event, it is incredibly imperative that the Yazoo Backwater Pump Project be completed as soon as possible; and

WHEREAS, the Yazoo Backwater Area (the "South Delta") comprises approximately 1,550 square miles of alluvial valley in the lower Yazoo Basin of Mississippi, encompassing the area south of the line between Hollandale and Belzoni, east of the Mainline Mississippi River Levee and west of the Yazoo River Levee; and

WHEREAS, in addition to the residents, farmers, homes and other infrastructure and the economy being devastated during this traumatic flood in the South Delta, the wildlife, trees and environment were also tremendously devastated due to the incredible flood water; and

WHEREAS, the State of Mississippi lost an entire year of crop production on 231,000 acres and lost all the small trees on 317,000 acres of woods as a result of the unprecedented Yazoo backwater flooding, and many residents are under extreme financial and mental hardship trying to rebuild their properties and homes; and

WHEREAS, completion of the Yazoo Backwater Pump Project would greatly help in preventing future destruction and devastating flooding to lands, citizens, wildlife and trees in the Yazoo Backwater Area; and

WHEREAS, it is the policy of the Legislature to care for the safety and wellbeing of all Mississippians, especially during times of great catastrophe such as the historic 2019 Backwater Flood:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE SENATE CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby request the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Environmental Protection Agency, the Mississippi Levee Board and the Yazoo-Mississippi Delta Levee Board to take all necessary actions to complete the Yazoo Backwater Pump Project as soon as possible.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be furnished to the United States Army Corps of Engineers, Environmental Protection Agency, Mississippi Levee Board, Yazoo-Mississippi Delta Levee Board, Mississippi Congressional Delegation, and members of the Capitol Press Corps.