Mississippi Valley Division spans nation
By PAM CLARK
Mississippi Valley DivisionThe U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Mississippi Valley Division (MVD) spans the nation from border to border, from Canada to the Gulf of Mexico.
The mission of the Corps in the Mississippi Valley is accomplished by two distinct, complementary organizations—the Mississippi River Commission (MRC) and Mississippi Valley Division. Both are headquartered in Vicksburg, Miss., and commanded by Brig. Gen. Edwin J. Arnold Jr.
MISSISSIPPI RIVER COMMISSION
The Mississippi River Commission was established by presidential appointment on June 28, 1879. It was given the mission to develop a plan that would "correct, permanently locate and deepen the channel and protect the banks of the Mississippi River, improve and give safety and ease to navigation thereof, prevent destructive floods, promote and facilitate commerce, trade and the postal service."
Its members were to consist of three officers of the Corps (one serving as president); one member from the U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey; and three civilians, two of whom must be civil engineers. Since its creation, the Mississippi River Commission has retained this unique composition.
For nearly half a century, the Mississippi River Commission functioned as an executive body reporting directly to the Secretary of War. But the disastrous 1927 flood changed the commission’s mission. The consequent 1928 Flood Control Act created the Mississippi River and Tributaries project, a comprehensive, complex plan for improving the river and portions of its tributaries between Cape Girardeau, Mo., and Head of Passes.
The act designated the Mississippi River Commission to serve as advisory body. Its president was responsible for implementing the plan and for reporting to the Chief of Engineers.
The MRC’s general duties include making recommendations on policy and work programs, studying and reporting on the need for modifications or additions to the Mississippi River and Tributaries project, conducting public hearings and making inspection trips.
The Mississippi River Commission’s headquarters, originally in St. Louis, Mo., moved to Vicksburg in 1929. Since that time, the MRC president also has served as division engineer of MVD.
MISSISSIPPI VALLEY DIVISION
MVD conducts the Corps’ water resources development and environmental programs not encompassed by the MRC mission. MVD has six districts that span the Mississippi River’s corridor from Canada to the Gulf of Mexico. These six districts are in St. Paul, Minn.; Rock Island, Ill.; St. Louis, Mo; Memphis, Tenn.; Vicksburg, Miss.; and New Orleans, La. They conduct the programs and activities overseen by both the Mississippi River Commission and Mississippi Valley Division.
MVD’s boundaries cover portions of 12 states, 60 congressional districts and encompass 370,000 square miles. It is represented by 24 percent of the U.S. Senate and 13 percent of the U.S. House of Representatives.
The mission of the dual headquarters and its districts is to develop and maintain flood control systems, navigation improvements and channel stabilization measures. In addition, they also undertake projects that preserve, restore and enhance environmental resources.
Meeting these public needs and expectations requires conducting engineering studies; preparing designs and specifications; building, operating and maintaining facilities and installations; acquiring, managing and disposing of real property; and administering various laws and regulations. In addition, it means mobilizing support during natural disasters and other emergencies.
—Engineer Update, February 2000