(GULFPORT, Miss., April 6, 2025) – On April 3, 2025, the Mississippi Sound Coalition (MSSC) provided powerful and insightful new commentary to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The Coalition prepared the document linked below in response to the Corps’ invitation for comments on the occasion of the Mississippi River Commission’s annual high water inspection trip March 30-April 4.

The Coalition’s comments represent fresh clarity into ways in which the Corps’ future actions can provide relief from the increasingly negative effects of intrusive Mississippi River water on the Mississippi Sound Estuary affecting the economy and way of life of Mississippians.

During the high-profile event each year, the Corps hosts members of the Mississippi River Commission on an excursion down the river on its motor vessel named “Mississippi,” conducting public hearings along the way. According to an Army Corps Press Release, “All hearings are open to the public and will provide a platform for community members to hear directly from the Mississippi River Commission and engage in discussions about the river.”

The Corps provided an alternative option for public input with an invitation for comments, to which the Coalition thoroughly responded. The comments document is worth the read by anyone interested in MSSC’s continuing efforts to save the Mississippi Sound estuary from the harmful effects of Mississippi water intrusion into the Sound.

“For instance, the Commission should replace the Bonnet Carré and Morganza Spillways with state-of-the art structures that open simultaneously to avoid harm to fishing grounds in both states,” said Gerald Blessey, Manager of the Mississippi Sound Coalition.

Click Here to Read MSSC’s Comments to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers