The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency rejected the Yahoo Pumps Project proposal for the Mississippi Delta, after concluding that the negative environmental impact would be far greater than the economic benefits. The agency vetoed the proposal under the Clean Water Act (CWA), which prohibits the use of United States waters as a disposal site for fill material as long as that draws unacceptable effects on municipal water supplies, shellfish beds and fishery areas, wildlife, or recreational areas.

“Together with our state and federal partners we can improve flood protection and ensure environmental protection,” said Assistant Administrator for Water Benjamin H. Grumbles. “We’re helping to identify a better project that reduces flooding, protect the environment and saves major taxpayer dollars.”

The Yazoo Backwater Project proposed solutions to prevent the floods in the Mississippi South Delta, and protect the communities, as well as wildlife habitat, from the devastating effects of the flooding. The project implied reforesting large surfaces of wetland, in addition to building a pumping station to remove high water during floods.

However, after carefully analyzing the situation, the Environmental Protection Agency concluded that such changes to the Yazoo Backwater Area’s wetland and aquatic resources, which serve as critical fish and wildlife habitat, in additional to having economic and recreational purposes, would result in unacceptable damages of these resources.

The Mississippi Levee Board complained earlier this year that despite years of assessing the situation, the Environmental Protection Agency is ready to let the Yazoo Backwater Project become the victim of an interagency policy dispute with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers over the future of flood control.

The Mississippi Levee Board said in March this year that EPA’s veto proposal at the time was “a challenge to the fundamental premise of congressionally authorized flood damage protection.” They also added that they didn’t want the citizens of South Mississippi to get caught between a federal interagency policy dispute: “We need to find a constructive, not destructive, way to balance environmental and economic needs going forward.”

The Yazoo Backwater Project got the Congress’ approval in 1941, as a solution to the tendency in flood stages, which revealed a yearly upward trend. The project involved a 14,000 cubic feet per second pumping station that would operate during high stages on the Mississippi River, when South Delta flood waters are trapped behind Steele Bayou Structure and exceed 87 feet above sea level. The project was estimated at $220 million, with promises to return $1.50 in benefits for every $1 spent.

EPA argued that by giving green light to such a project, thousands of acres of wetlands and other waters of the United States would be affected, which would result in unacceptable adverse effects on fishery areas and wildlife.

“EPA continues to support the goal of providing improved flood protection for the residents of the Mississippi Delta; however, it believes that this vital objective can be accomplished consistent with ensuring effective protection for the area’s valuable natural resources.”