MISSISSIPPI RIVER COM MISSION 

P.O. BOX 80 

VICKSBURG, MISSISSIPPI 39181-0080 

PRESIDENT and MEMBER 

*Brig. Gen.(P) Michael J. Walsh 

CorT)mander, Mississippi 

Valley Division 

Vicksburg, Mississippi 

MEMBERS 

*Honorable Sam E. Angel 

Civilian 

Lake Village, Arkansas 

Honorable R. D. James 

Civi/ian!ClVil Engineer 

New Madrid, Missouri 

*Honorable Wm. Clifford Smith 

Civilian/Civil Engineer 

Houm<'!. Louisiana 

*Rear Adm. Jonathan W. Bailey 

National Oceanic and 

Atmospheric Administration 

Silver Spring, Maryland 

*Maj. Gen. John W. Peabody 

Commander, Great Lakes & 

Ohio River Division 

Cincinnati, Ohio 

*Brig. Gen. John R. McMahon 

Commander, Northwestern 

Division 

Portland, Oregon 

SECRETARY 

Col. George T. Shepard Jr. 

Vicksburg, Mississippi 

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR 

Mr. T. Stephen Gambrell 

Vicksburg, Mississippi 

(601) 634-5766 

Email: cemvd-ex@usace.army.mil 

Web site: www.mvd.usace.army.mil 

* designee 

MISSISSIPPI RIVER COMMISSION 

VICKSBURG, MISSISSIPPI 

April 16, 201 0 

STATEMENT OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER COMMISSION 

RIVER DIVERSIONS 

Congress created the Mississippi River Commission 

with the mandate to remake the Mississippi River into a safe 

and reliable commercial artery while protecting adjacent lands 

from overflow. Section 4 of the 1879 Act granted this 

Commission extensive authority as follows: 

It shall be the duty of said commission tq take into 

consideration and mature such plan or plans and estimates 

as will correct, permanently locate, and deepen the channel 

and protect the banks of the Mississippi River; improve and 

give safety and ease to the navigation thereof; prevent 

destructive floods; promote and facilitate commerce, trade, 

and the postal service ... 

More than 130 years later, this Commission with its 

partners and stakeholders, has realized this ambitious 

assignment through th~ implementation of the comprehensive 

Mississippi River and Tributaries (MR&T) project. Since its 

initiation, the MR& T project has brought an unprecedented 

degree of flood protection to the lower Mississippi valley, 

while facilitating navigation and promoting commerce on the 

nation's vital commercial artery. 

The Mississippi River Commission has authority under 

Section 14 of the1899 Rivers and Harbors Act, Sections 8 and 

9 of the 1928 Flood Control Act, and Division Regulation 415-2-

3, to manage and approve proposed alterations to the flood 

control features of the MR&T project. 

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 2 Canadian provinces. 

Listening/ Inspecting/ Partnering and Engineering since 1879 
-2-

Recent studies in the vicinity of Myrtle Grove, Magnolia, Venice, 

and the Head of Passes, which include detailed field analysis and model 

simulation by the USACE Engineer Research and Development Center, 

the University of Louisiana-Lafayette, the University of Texas, and other 

noted scientists and engineers, have demonstrated the complexity of the 

hydraulics and sediment transport in the lower Mississippi River. 

This Commission believes that sound engineering should follow 

science. Considering our mandate to provide a safe and reliable 

navigation channel and our obligation to approve all alterations to the 

MR& T project, this Commission recommends that any future diversions 

on the Mississippi River be constructed so that they can be controlled, 

modified, and monitored. 
Mississippi River Commission 

River Diversions 

ichael · . Walsh 

Brigad" r Generai(P), U.S. Army 

PresicJ nt Designee, Mississippi 

Rivef Commission 

Vicksburg, MS 

Hon. R. 

Civilian mber, Engineer 

New Madrid, MO 

RADM Jonathan W. Bailey 

Member Designee 

National Oceanic & 

Atmospheric Administration 

Silver Spring, MD 

John R. McMahon 

Brigadier General, U.S. Army 

Member Designee 

Northwestern Division 

Portland, OR 

April16, 2010 

Hon. Sam E. Angel 

Senior Civilian Member 

Lake Village, AR 

Hon. Wm. Cliff Smith 

Civilian Member, Engineer 

Houma, LA 

John W. Peabody 

Major General, U.S. Army 

Member Designee 

Great Lakes & Ohio River Division 

Cincinnati, OH 

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 Unned States and includes 1.25 million square miles, C:Ner 250 tributaries, 31 

states, and 2 Canadian provinces. 

Listening, Inspecting, Partnering and Engineering since 1879