About the Mississippi Sound Coalition
Our Mission
To restore, preserve and protect the ecosystem of the Mississippi Sound estuary and the economy and way of life that depend on it.
The Mississippi Sound Coalition (MSSC) is working to restore and protect the ecosystem of the Mississippi Sound estuary and the economy and way of life that depend on it. Its efforts are focused primarily on causing changes in public policies at national, state, and local levels to prevent further damage from the polluted, salt-less water of the Mississippi River released from the Bonnet Carré Spillway that intrudes into the Mississippi Sound.
The Coalition Leadership is also concerned about other threats to the Sound like the Mid-Breton Sediment Diversion Project proposed by Louisiana’s Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority (CPRA).
The Coalition provides public education and advocacy on the subject, and, when necessary, members who chose to be parties engage in litigation in support of our Mission.
Until 2023, the Coalition conducted its work with funding from some of the named plaintiffs in its lawsuits – i.e., Harrison and Hancock counties, and the cities of Biloxi, D’Iberville, Pass Christian, and Waveland. However, in 2023 the Mississippi Legislature appropriated funds to Harrison County to manage for the Mississippi Sound Coalition to go forward with its scientific and engineering research, economic impact studies, and public outreach and education.
Members & Associated Groups
The Mississippi Sound Coalition is an unincorporated, non-profit association formed by a Memorandum of Understanding after the 2019 Bonnet Carré openings. The Coalition advises federal, state, and local governments on ways and means to achieve the Coalition’s Mission to restore and protect the Mississippi Sound and the economy and way of life that depend on it. Current Members of the Coalition include Harrison County, Hancock County, the Mississippi cities of Biloxi, D’Iberville, Gulfport, Long Beach, Pass Christian, Diamondhead, Bay St. Louis, Waveland, Ocean Springs, Gautier and Pascagoula. The Mississippi Hotel & Lodging Association and the Mississippi Commercial Fisheries United are Associate Members.
To Protect the ecosystem of the Mississippi Sound.
The MISSION of the Mississippi Sound Coalition is to restore and protect the ecosystem of the Mississippi Sound and the way of life and economies of coastal communities that depend on it, based on good science and fair public policy.