# Mississippi River Commission low-water inspection trip

VICKSBURG, Miss.,August 4, 2014 -- The Mississippi River Commission will conduct its annual low-waterinspection trip on the Mississippi River August 15-22, 2014.

Four public meetingshave been scheduled aboard the Motor Vessel *MISSISSIPPI*in selected towns along the river so commission members have the opportunity tomeet with local partners, stakeholders and residents and hear their concerns,ideas and issues. The meeting places, dates and times are as follows:

·        August15        9:00 a.m.               Rosedale, Miss. (Port of Rosedale)
·        August18        9:00 a.m.               Caruthersville, Mo. (City Front)
·        August19        9:00 a.m.               Memphis, Tenn.(Mud Island Landing)
·        August22        9:00 a.m.               Houma, La. (Enterprise Marine Dock)

All meetings are opento the public. Anyone with an interest is invited to present their views andsuggestions on matters affecting the water resources infrastructure needs inthe valley, including flood control and the Mississippi River and Tributariesproject, environmental issues, recreation, navigation and others. 

The agenda for eachpublic meeting will be as follows:

1. Summary report by president of the commission on national and regionalissues affecting the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and commission programs andprojects on the Mississippi River and its tributaries.

2. District commander's overview for the commission on current projectissues in the respective district area.

3. Presentations to the commission by local organizations and members ofthe public giving views or comments on any issue affecting the programs orprojects of the commission and the Corps of Engineers.  

The commission will alsotravel the McClellan–Kerr ArkansasRiver Navigation System August 10-14, with stops in the followinglocations to conduct dialogue sessions with partners and stakeholders (meetingsare not open to the public):

·        August10        Tulsa and Muskogee, Okla.
·        August12        Fort Smith, Ark.
·        August13        Little Rock, Ark.
·        August14        Montgomery Point Lock and Dam

TheMRC, established in 1879, is composed of seven members, each nominated by thePresident of the United States and vetted by the Senate. Three of theorganization's members are officers of the Corps of Engineers; one member isfrom the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration; and three members arecivilians, two of whom are civil engineers.

Generalduties of the commission include recommendation of policy and work programs,the study of and reporting upon the necessity for modifications or additions tothe flood control and navigation project, recommendation upon any mattersauthorized by law, and making semi-annual inspection trips. The duties of thecommission include the entire length of the Mississippi River from itsheadwaters at Lake Itasca, Minn., to Head of Passes, La.,where the Mississippi River empties into the Gulf ofMexico. 

Thepurpose of the public meetings is to maintain a dialogue, an exchange ofviewpoints and ideas flowing between the watershed interests, the public andthe Corps. Presentations by the public are made orally, but a copy of theremarks should be presented to the commission for the official record andwritten response.

Thepublic hearing process is unique to the Mississippi River Commission and theU.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The benefits of hearing the issues and concerns firsthand through the public hearing process are invaluable to the commission andthe Corps. Also, the interaction with congressional, federal and state interests,local boards and non-government organizations and the public is crucial to thedecision-making process for the nation’s water resources.

Since1879, the seven-member Presidentially appointed Mississippi River Commissionhas developed and matured plans for the general improvement of the MississippiRiver from the Head of Passes to the Headwaters. The Mississippi RiverCommission brings critical engineering representation to the drainage basin,which impacts 41% of the United States and includes 1.25 million square miles,over 250 tributaries,    31 states andtwo Canadian provinces.

Listening,inspecting, partnering and engineering since 1879.

- end -**Contact**                Bob Anderson                                601-634-5760                                                                robert.t.anderson@usace.army.mil
Release no. 14-010
Mississippi RiverMississippi Valley Divisionlow waterinspection tripMississippi  River Commission