Mississippi River

Commission

2019

High-Water 

Inspection Trip

401st Session 

Proceedings
Mississippi River Commission

Proceedings of the 401st Session

April 8-12, 2019

The Mississippi River Commission conducted its 401st Session from April 8-12, 2019 

aboard the Motor Vessel MISSISSIPPI and held formal public hearings at Hickman, 

Kentucky; Memphis, Tennessee; Rosedale, Mississippi; and Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

The hearings were held in accordance with Section 8 of the 1928 Flood Control Act:

“Sec.8....The commission shall make inspection trips of such frequency and duration as 

will enable it to acquire first-hand information as to conditions and problems germane to 

the matter of flood control within the area of its jurisdiction; and on such trips of 

inspection ample opportunity for hearings and suggestions shall be afforded persons 

affected by or interested in such problems.”

The hearings, engagements and dialogue help maintain a consistent connection —an 

exchange of viewpoints and ideas among the public, partners, stakeholders, elected 

officials, the Mississippi River Commission, the Corps of Engineers and agencies from the 

private, state and federal sectors. This process provides a greater voice for those who live 

and work in the region in shaping federal management and policy on the river.

Approximately 350 members of the public attended the public meetings and listened to the 

testimony presented by 57 individual speakers.

What follows are the proceedings of the 401st Session with summaries of each testimony 

and hyperlinks to all transcripts, audio, presentations, photographs, and formal written 

testimonies, all of which are held at the office of the President of the Mississippi River 

Commission.

____________________________ ____________________________

Charles A. Camillo Colonel Robert Hilliard

Executive Director Secretary

Mississippi River Commission Mississippi River Commission 

2
Mississippi River Commission

Proceedings of the 401st Session

The members of the Mississippi River Commission present during the 

401st session were:

• Maj. Gen. Richard Kaiser, appointed as president on September 7,

2017.

• Maj. Gen. Mark Toy, appointed as member on December 13, 2016.

• Brig. Gen. Paul Owen, Designated as a member on July 27, 2017.

• Rear Adm. Shepard Smith, appointed as member on January 3,

2017.

• Hon. Sam E. Angel, reappointed as member on December 30, 2010.

• Hon. Norma Jean Mattei, PhD, civil engineer, appointed as member

on December 3, 2012.

• Hon. James Reeder, civil engineer, appointed as a member May 17,

2018

• Col. Robert Hilliard served as secretary of the commission, a nonvoting position.

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Executive Summary

Mississippi River Commission Public Meeting

MV Mississippi – Hickman, Ky.

 Monday, April 8, 2019, 9:00 a.m.

1

Approximately 50 members of the public attended the meeting.

Mississippi River Commission members present: MG Richard Kaiser, RADM Shepard Smith, 

BG Paul Owen, Dr. Norma Jean Mattei, Sam Angel, James Reeder and Col. Robert Hilliard

(Secretary). 

Congressional and elected officials in attendance: Heath Robins (Office of Rep. Jason Smith, 

MO-9), Ivy Rogers (Office of Rep. David Kustoff), Matt Bain (Office of Sen. Josh Hawley, 

MO), Madison Baker (Office of Sen. Roy Blunt, MO)

9:06 MG Kaiser called the meeting to order

Audio

9:10 MG Kaiser provided introductory comments and delivered the commission’s strategic 

messages; discussed performance of MR&T during 2019 flood.

Audio 

Transcript

9:16 Col. Mike Ellicott (Memphis District Commander) provided overview of MR&T projects 

and Corps activities within the district; discussed performance of MR&T in 2019 flood.

Audio

Presentation

Transcript

9:32 Matt Bain (Office of Sen. Josh Hawley, MO): 2019 Flood Mississippi and Missouri rivers; 

southeast Missouri projects: New Madrid Pump, St. Francis Berm, Elk Chute, basic 

maintenance; elimination of red tape for projects, especially environmental regulations. 

Testimony – Audio

Testimony – Transcript

9:37 Heath Robins (Office of Rep. Jason Smith, Missouri Eighth District): Trump trade policies 

impact on southeast Missouri; funding; environmental opposition to projects; flood 

fighting/protection in southeast MO; Birds Point-New Madrid Floodway; St. Francis Levee 

system seepage berm; Elk Chute levee. 

Testimony – Audio

Formal Written Testimony

Testimony – Transcript

9:44 Greg Curlin (Hickman-Fulton County Riverport): Dredging and funding for dredging; 2019 

flood; silting in harbor; upgrades to rail system connecting Hickman and Dyersburg.

Testimony – Audio

Formal Statement on Record

Testimony – Transcript
Executive Summary

Mississippi River Commission Public Meeting

MV Mississippi – Hickman, Ky.

 Monday, April 8, 2019, 9:00 a.m.

2

9:56 Charles Davis (St. Francis Levee District of Missouri): Belle Fountain ditch system

cleanout; Drainage Districts Nos. 2 and 3 ditch cleanout. 

Testimony – Audio

Formal Statement on Record

Testimony – Transcript

10:03 Mike Reed (Sny Island Levee District): Comprehensive flood system on upper 

Mississippi; Sny Island Levee heights; flooding on upper Mississippi; use of reservoirs for flood 

control; Champ Clark Bridge approach impact on flood heights. 

Testimony – Audio

Formal Statement on Record

Presentation

Testimony – Transcript

10:18 Dustin Boatwright (Little River Drainage District): Little River ditch cleanout and 

maintenance; performance of relief wells during 2019 flood; MR&T investment and completion.

Testimony – Audio

Formal Statement on Record

Testimony – Transcript

10:47 Ryan Moxley (Levee District No. 3 of Mississippi County, MO): P. Fields Pumping 

Station; new engines and funding needed for pumps.

Testimony – Audio

Formal Statement on Record

Presentation

Testimony – Transcript

10:57 Charles Earnest (Elk Chute Drainage District): Deficient Elk Chute south levee project; 

Belle Fountain and connecting ditches cleanout.

Testimony – Audio

Formal Statement on Record

Testimony – Transcript

11:06 Jimmy Moody (Dyer County Levee and Drainage District): Emergency rock work at 

Island 18; Dyer County Little Levee; 2019 Flood impacts and 2011 Flood damages.

Testimony – Audio

Formal Statement on Record

Testimony – Transcript
Executive Summary

Mississippi River Commission Public Meeting

MV Mississippi – Hickman, Ky.

 Monday, April 8, 2019, 9:00 a.m.

3

11:14 Shelly Morris (Western Kentucky, The Nature Conservancy): Western Kentucky wetlands 

restoration; conversion of flooded farmlands to wetlands. 

Testimony – Audio

Testimony – Transcript

11:17 No Name Given: 408 permit for tree removal.

Testimony – Audio

Testimony – Transcript

11:19 Commission member closing remarks

Audio 

Transcript

11:27 Meeting Adjourned

Formal For the Record

Reynold Minksy Formal Written Testimony

Doug Voorhees Formal Written Testimony
Executive Summary

Mississippi River Commission Public Meeting

MV Mississippi – Memphis, Tenn.

 Tuesday April 9, 2019, 9:00 a.m.

4

Approximately 76 members of the public attended the meeting.

Mississippi River Commission members present: MG Richard Kaiser, MG Mark Toy, BG Paul 

Owen, RADM Shepard Smith, Sam Angel, Dr. Norma Jean Mattei, James Reeder and Col. 

Robert Hilliard (Secretary). 

Congressional and elected officials in attendance: Chris Connolly (Office of Sen. Lamar 

Alexander, TN), Rich Maynard (Office of Rep. Steve Cohen, TN-9), Jeff Parrish and Nick 

Kistamacher (Office of Sen. Marsha Blackburn, TN), Walt Starr (Office of Rep. Trent Kelly, 

MS-1), Gene Higginbotham and Ty Davis (Office of Sen. John Boozman), Jay Sherrod (Office 

of Rep. Rick Crawford, AR-1), Kevin Johnson (Office of Rep. David Kustoff, TN-8).

9:06 MG Kaiser called the meeting to order 

9:11 MG Kaiser provided introductory comments and delivered the commission’s strategic 

messages. He also discussed 2019 flood and performance of MR&T.

Audio

Transcript

9:18 Col. Mike Ellicott (Memphis District Commander) provided an overview of MR&T 

projects, Corps activities within the district and 2019 flood. 

Audio

Presentation

Transcript

9:36 Allen Latimer (Mayor of Horn Lake, MS): Flooding in Horn Lake; Horn Lake flooding

study; funding for Horn Lake flood project. 

Testimony – Audio

Formal Statement on Record

Testimony – Transcript

9:38 Robert Knecht (Public Works Director City of Memphis): Requested Memphis floodwall be 

added to MR&T; Wolf River and Nonconnah River study; issues with Memphis floodwall. 

Testimony – Audio

Formal Statement on Record

Testimony – Transcript

9:45 Randy Richardson (Memphis and Shelby County Port Commission): Pidgeon Industrial 

relief wells and pumping station; Strategic Master Plan Port of Memphis; Pidgeon Industrial 

Redevelopment; Container on vessel; navigation and flood control investment.

Testimony – Audio

Formal Statement on Record

Presentation

Testimony – Transcript
Executive Summary

Mississippi River Commission Public Meeting

MV Mississippi – Memphis, Tenn.

 Tuesday April 9, 2019, 9:00 a.m.

5

9:57 Bruce Cook (Yazoo-Mississippi Delta Levee Board): Tunica levee maintenance; Upper 

Yazoo dredging Project; Sardis Lake operation for flood control; levee rutting near Yazoo City.

Testimony – Audio

Formal Statement on Record

Testimony – Transcript

10:09 John Paul Woodley and Kjerersti Monson (Friends of the Lock and Dam): Upper St. 

Anthony Falls Lock and Dam in Minneapolis closure and repurposing. 

Testimony – Audio

Formal Statement on Record

Presentation

Testimony – Transcript

10:20 Angelina Rodgers (LMRCC/U.S. FWS): Lower Mississippi River Conservation 

Committee; habitat restoration and conservation; side channel restoration improvements. 

Testimony – Audio

Formal Statement on Record

Testimony – Transcript

10:27 Ebony Mills (East Arkansas Enterprise Community): Funding for drainage and 

infrastructure improvements in St. Francis Basin under WRDA 1992. 

Testimony – Audio

Formal Statement on Record

Testimony – Transcript

10:30 Break

10:47 Harvey Joe Sanner (White River Coalition): White River navigation improvements;; 

White River economic development study. 

Testimony – Audio

Formal Statement on Record

Presentation

Testimony – Transcript

11:07 Jim Carroll (Piney Ditch Drainage Board): Piney drainage ditch improvements.

Testimony – Audio

Formal Statement on Record

Testimony – Transcript

11:15 David Blackwood (West Tennessee River Basin Authority): Cypress Creek study; 

Running Reelfoot Bayou; Piney Creek sedimentation study; Big Creek Watershed in Tipton 

County; Island No. 18 Tipton Lake; Memphis sand aquifer study.

Testimony – Audio

Testimony – Transcript
Executive Summary

Mississippi River Commission Public Meeting

MV Mississippi – Memphis, Tenn.

 Tuesday April 9, 2019, 9:00 a.m.

6

11:26 Gretchen Benjamin (The Nature Conservancy): Environmental projects; Lower 

Mississippi River Asset Assessment.

Testimony – Audio

Formal Statement on Record

Testimony – Transcript

11:35 Rob Rash (St. Francis Levee District of Arkansas): MR&T; St. Francis levees; 2011 flood; 

levee ratings; Wappapello transfer to Memphis District.

Testimony – Audio

Formal Statement on Record

Presentation

Testimony – Transcript

11:52 Edward Swaim (Bayou Meto Water Management District): Arkansas aquifer depletion;

Bayou Meto and Grand Prairie project.

Testimony – Audio

Formal Statement on Record

Testimony – Transcript

12:04 Brian Waldron (University of Memphis): Groundwater issues; Freshwater Institute 

Testimony – Audio

Formal Statement on Record

Testimony – Transcript

12:11 Michael Dougan (Sultana Disaster Museum): Sultana Disaster Museum. 

Testimony – Audio

Testimony – Transcript

12:17 Gary Bullwinkel (North Fayette County): Permit for mega site in Tipton County. 

Testimony – Audio

Testimony – Transcript

12:31 Commission member closing remarks

Audio 

Transcript

12:40 Meeting Adjourned

Formal For the Record

Jodi Simmons (St. Francis Drainage District): Written Testimony

Elizabeth Shoaf Burns (Forked Deer Island): Written Testimony
Executive Summary

Mississippi River Commission Public Meeting

MV Mississippi – Rosedale, Miss.

 Wednesday April 10, 2019 9:00 a.m.

7

Approximately 72 members of the public attended the meeting.

Mississippi River Commission members present: MG Richard Kaiser, MG Mark Toy, RADM 

Shepard Smith, Sam Angel, Dr. Norma Jean Mattei, James Reeder and Col. Robert Hilliard 

(Secretary). 

Congressional and elected officials in attendance: Bill Crump and Brian Perry (Office of Sen 

Cindy Hyde-Smith, MS), Gene Higginbotham (Office of Sen. John Boozman, AR), Cedric 

Watkins (Office of Rep. Bennie Thompson, MS-2), Jason McGee (Office of Rep. Bruce 

Westerman, AR-4) and Abe Hudson (MS State Rep.)

9:04 MG Kaiser called the meeting to order 

Transcript

9:09 MG Kaiser provided introductory comments and delivered the commission’s strategic 

messages; 2019 flood. 

Transcript

9:14 Col. Mike Derosier (Vicksburg District Commander) provided an overview of MR&T 

projects and Corps of Engineers activities within the district; 2019 flood. 

Audio

Presentation

Transcript

9:35 Robert Maxwell (Rosedale-Bolivar County Port Commission): Rosedale-Bolivar Port; 

dredging; Section 107 study for port.

Testimony – Audio

Formal Statement on Record

Testimony – Transcript

9:44 Woods Eastland (Delta Council): Yazoo Basin Projects; Yazoo Mississippi Delta flooding; 

Yazoo headwater reservoir operations; upper Yazoo channel improvements; Yazoo Delta 

headwater maintenance; Yazoo Backwater Pump project; aquifer/groundwater depletion. 

Testimony – Audio

Formal Statement on Record

Testimony – Transcript

9:55 Harry Stephens (Mississippi Valley Flood Control Association): MVFCA congressional 

visits; MR&T funding and project completion; MR&T during 2011 flood; Federal Flood 

Insurance and Federal Flood Risk Manage Standards; WOTUS definition. 

Testimony – Audio

Formal Statement on Record

Testimony – Transcript
Executive Summary

Mississippi River Commission Public Meeting

MV Mississippi – Rosedale, Miss.

 Wednesday April 10, 2019 9:00 a.m.

8

10:04 Reynold Minksy (5th Louisiana Levee District): Work items and supplemental work 

completed; FY19 funded projects; Tensas Basin maintenance and dredging.

Testimony – Audio

Formal Statement on Record

Testimony – Transcript

10:14 Peter Nimrod (Mississippi Levee Board): Levee enlargement work items; 2019 levee 

slides; 2019 Yazoo backwater flooding; improvements to levee following 2011 flood; relief 

wells and sand boil issues; Eagle Lake flooding; Yazoo Backwater Pump.

Testimony – Audio

Formal Statement on Record

Presentation

Testimony – Transcript

10:29 Clay Adcock (Bonnie Farms, Holly Bluff, MS): Flooding in Yazoo backwater; Yazoo 

Backwater pump.

Testimony – Audio

Formal Statement on Record

Testimony – Transcript

10:42 Ann Dahl (Eagle Lake, MS, resident): Eagle Lake and Yazoo backwater flooding; Yazoo 

Backwater Pump.

Testimony – Audio

Testimony – Transcript

10:49 Break

11:07 Sherrel Johnson (Union County Water Conservation Board, AR): Sparta Aquifer recovery.

Testimony – Audio

Formal Statement on Record

Testimony – Transcript

11:25 Milton Chambliss (Claiborne County Port Commission): Dredging of Claiborne Co. Port; 

Sec. 107 Feasibility Study request; Port Gibson.

Testimony – Audio

Formal Statement on Record

Testimony – Transcript

11:37 Don Christy (Yazoo Mississippi Delta Joint Water Management District): Water supply, 

conservation and quality; YMD water management plan; recharge of Sparta Aquifer; Sunflower 

River Weir; Corps authority for agricultural water supply.

Testimony – Audio

Formal Statement on Record

Testimony – Transcript
Executive Summary

Mississippi River Commission Public Meeting

MV Mississippi – Rosedale, Miss.

 Wednesday April 10, 2019 9:00 a.m.

9

11:53 Dolly Marascalco (Grenada Lake Project Champion): Dredging; Yazoo backwater pump; 

Yazoo backwater flooding.

Testimony – Audio

Formal Statement on Record

Presentation

Testimony – Transcript

12:01 Don Underwood (Mississippi Soil and Water Conservation): Carter-Rocky Bayou Area 

Protection Project; non-Corps levee project but would like permitting support from Corps.

Testimony – Audio

Formal Statement on Record

Presentation

Testimony – Transcript

12:14 Fred Ballard (Mississippi Levee Board): Yazoo Backwater flooding and pump project.

Testimony – Audio

Formal Statement on Record

Presentation

Testimony – Transcript

12:18 Commission member closing remarks

Audio 

Transcript

12:28 Meeting Adjourned

Filed For the Record

Charles Grayson (Bigger Pie Forum): Formal Written Testimony

William Van Devender (Southern Timber Venture/Claw Forestry): Formal Written Testimony

Rayford Wilbanks (Ouachita River Valley Association): Formal Written Testimony
Executive Summary

Mississippi River Commission Public Meeting

MV Mississippi –Baton Rouge, La.

 Friday, April 12, 2019 9:00 a.m.

10

Approximately 47 members of the public attended the meeting.

Mississippi River Commission members present: MG Richard Kaiser, BG Mark Toy, RADM 

Shepard Smith, Sam Angel, Dr. Norma Jean Mattei, James Reeder and Col. Robert Hilliard 

(Secretary). 

Congressional and elected officials in attendance: Mike Ebby (Office of Sen. Bill Cassidy, LA),

Tommy Martinez (Office of Sen. John Kennedy, LA), Greg Ellison (Office of Rep. Clay

Higgins, LA-4), Paul Sawyer (Office of Rep. Garret Graves, LA-6)

9:03 MG Kaiser called the meeting to order 

Transcript

9:08 MG Kaiser provided introductory comments and delivered the commission’s strategic 

messages. 

Transcript

9:12 Col. Col. Mike Clancy (New Orleans District Commander) provided an overview of 

MR&T projects and Corps of Engineers activities within the district. 

Presentation

Transcript

9:32 Dave O’Laughlin (Ingram Barge Company): Inland waterways tax; economic benefits of 

inland navigation. 

Testimony – Audio

Formal Statement on Record

Testimony – Transcript

9:37 Gordon Dove (Terrebonne Parish President): Permitting process; Hanson Canal Pump 

Station; Elliot Jones Pump Station; Bayou Black Pump Station; Shell Oil land donation; Houma 

Navigation Canal, Bubba Dove Floodgate and lock; Petit Caillou Drainage Project; Bayou 

Terrebonne Lock; Bayou Chene. 

Testimony – Audio

Formal Statement on Record

Testimony – Transcript

9:50 Reggie Dupre (Terrebonne Levee and Conservation District): Morganza to the Gulf Project.

Testimony – Audio

Testimony – Transcript

9:58 Tony Alford (Terrebonne Levee and Conservation District President): Lower insurance 

premiums due to improved flood and hurricane protection; thanks Corps for positive efforts.

Testimony – Audio

Testimony – Transcript
Executive Summary

Mississippi River Commission Public Meeting

MV Mississippi –Baton Rouge, La.

 Friday, April 12, 2019 9:00 a.m.

11

10:01 Mac Wade (Port of Morgan City): Dredging Morgan City Port; Beneficial Use of Dredge 

Material; agitator dredge; funding FY18 and FY19; Bar Channel dredging to maintain 20’x 400’ 

channel; supplemental for additional dredging.

Testimony – Audio

Formal Statement on Record

Presentation

Testimony – Transcript

10:13 Oneil Malbrough (GIS Engineering): Port of Iberia-Acadia (AGMAC) requests funding in 

FY20 to complete validation report on project.

Testimony – Audio

Formal Statement on Record

Testimony – Transcript

10:26 Windell Curole (South Lafourche Levee District): Levee design standards for hurricane 

protection levees post-Katrina; hurricane protection. 

Testimony – Audio

Formal Statement on Record

Testimony – Transcript

10:34 Chaplain Tom Rhoades (The Seaman’s Church): Offers pastoral care to seamen 

Testimony – Audio

Testimony – Transcript

10:35 – Break

10:53 Doug Daigle (Mississippi River Network): Reconnecting floodplain and restoring 

wetlands; pre-disaster mitigation program; environmental/natural infrastructure; hypoxia; land 

water conservation fund.

Testimony – Audio

Testimony – Transcript

10:58 Tim Osborne (NOAA OCS): Precision navigation survey improvements; pipeline 

incidents on river.

Testimony – Audio

Formal Statement on Record

Presentation

Testimony – Transcript

11:13 Ed Landgraf (Coastal and Marine Operations): Mariner safety, riverborne commerce and 

environmental protection; pipeline incidents on river; pipeline location database.

Testimony – Audio

Testimony – Transcript
Executive Summary

Mississippi River Commission Public Meeting

MV Mississippi –Baton Rouge, La.

 Friday, April 12, 2019 9:00 a.m.

12

11:26 Steve Gambrione (LA Department of Natural Resources): Pipeline incidents on river.

Testimony – Audio

Testimony – Transcript

11:30 Chris McLindon (New Orleans Geological Society, Mid-Barataria Sediment Diversion 

EIS): Requests statement of support for ATLAS study of seismic data and faults; coastal land 

subsidence; Vacherie Fault – Hester Dome; St. Rose Fault; saltwater intrusions; impact of MidBarataria Sediment Diversion (MBSD) on subsidence; geological comments in EIS for MBSD.

Testimony – Audio

Formal Statement on Record

Presentation

Testimony – Transcript

11:40 Matt Rota (Healthy Gulf): 2019 floods; Yazoo Pump Project EIS; environmental impact of 

pipelines; Bayou Bridge pipelines.

Testimony – Audio

Testimony – Transcript

11:51 Monica Fisher and Dean Wilson (Atchafalaya Basinkeeper): Accretion issues in 

Atchafalaya Basin due to cuts in levee; hypoxia; restoring flows to wetlands.

Testimony – Audio

Formal Statement on Record

Testimony – Transcript

12:00 Scott Eustice (Healthy Gulf): Sedimentation offshore in Gulf causing mudslides that lead 

to oil spills during hurricanes.

Testimony – Audio

Transcript

12:02 Commission member closing remarks

Audio

Transcript

12:13 Meeting Adjourned