On Monday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Army Corps) released the final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Yazoo Backwater Study Area. This marks a significant step forward for a long-awaited flood control project in the South Mississippi Delta.

The project, promised 83 years ago, has repeatedly been delayed despite support from local stakeholders, the Army Corps, and environmental groups. The release of the final EIS indicates progress toward completing the Yazoo Backwater Pumps, which aim to reduce devastating flooding in the region.

U.S. Senators Roger Wicker and Cindy Hyde-Smith, Republicans from Mississippi, welcomed the announcement.

“This milestone would not have been possible without collaboration from Yazoo Backwater Area residents, homeowners, business owners, and farmers,” Wicker said, highlighting the need to prevent further hardship in the region. “It is time to finish the pumps.”

Hyde-Smith emphasized the significance of the final EIS, stating it brings the project closer to construction. “I strongly encourage those living in the Delta and elsewhere in Mississippi to push these federal agencies to finish the pumps,” she said.

The project has been a focal point for flood control efforts in the South Mississippi Delta, an area plagued by recurring flooding that impacts communities, agriculture, and the local economy.

The final EIS will remain open for public review and comment until Dec. 30, 2024, before the project advances to the next stage.