From the Chairman
Partnerships are the essence of the Lower Mississippi River Conservation Committee’s efforts to restore aquatic natural resources in the lower Mississippi valley. Acting independently, the natural resource and environmental quality agencies in the six states along the lower river do not have the legal authority, financial ability, personnel, or equipment to manage an ecosystem of such magnitude.
By forming partnerships between agencies and local communities, the LMRCC can play a critical role in regional efforts to restore fisheries and aquatic habitat within the 2.6 million-acre floodplain and along tributaries. An excellent example of the LMRCC’s ability to assist local communities in restoring their environment is discussed in the cover story of this issue on Deer Creek in Mississippi.
Deer Creek is a former distributary of the Mississippi River that flows south from Lake Bolivar through the Delta to the Whittington Auxiliary Channel north of Vicksburg. Over the years, the creek has suffered substantially from land clearing, low flows, sedimentation, and illegal dumping. Although no one entity can address Deer Creek’s problems, the restoration may be a reality within a few years.
Recently, a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service private lands biologist began meeting with landowners to discuss the possibility of restoring the lower 63-mile reach of the creek. Landowner support of the project is vital to its success because all property along the creek is privately owned.
After receiving a grant from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, the LMRCC organized a meeting in June to determine the level of interest in the project. More than 60 landowners, state and federal agency representatives, and officials from local government attended.
The expertise provided by the Vicksburg District of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is also essential to the success of the project. The Corps has the engineering capability to design a project that will provide long-term benefits to Deer Creek and the adjacent communities.
The Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality recently adopted its Basin Management Approach, which seeks to coordinate water-quality management within river basins.
The Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks can conduct fish surveys, develop restoration plans and restock depleted fisheries.
The U.S. Natural Resources Conservation Service can assist private landowners throughout the watershed in developing best management practices for their agricultural operations and can provide financial assistance in implementing approved conservation plans.
It is unlikely that any of these partners could complete the Deer Creek restoration project alone. But when local communities, agencies, and organizations pool their resources, the likelihood that Deer Creek will again become an important natural resource is significantly enhanced.
The LMRCC is proud to provide a forum for enhancing natural resources and communities.