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County approves beach plant-collection permission and forwards letter supporting MSU pilot to EPA
Summary
Mississippi State University presenters asked supervisors for permission to collect native dune and wetland plants on county beaches for coastal restoration and for a county letter of support for an EPA water-quality pilot. Supervisors approved both items by voice vote and asked staff to coordinate access details.
Two presentations from Mississippi State University and the Coastal Conservation and Research Program led the board to approve permission for native-species collection on county beaches and to forward a draft letter of support for a proposed EPA water-quality pilot.
Caitlin Mitchell, representing Mississippi State University's Coastal Conservation and Research Program, asked supervisors for written permission the program could attach to outreach materials to confirm that the county allows collection of deemed species and native wetland plants on coastal beaches in the four coastal counties. "I'm here just to seek permission to collect deemed species and native wetland plant species on the coastal beaches," Mitchell said, and she confirmed she had permits from the Department of Marine Resources and permissions from several parks and private properties. Supervisors motioned, seconded and approved the request and asked staff to coordinate logistics before Mitchell left the meeting.
Separately, Paul Mitchell, co-director at Mississippi State (Northern Gulf Institute), described a pilot proposal to EPA using a new technology that absorbs nutrients from stormwater outfalls and could be scaled as a modular restoration tool. He said the team would use a model to prioritize outfalls with the highest nutrient outputs and run pilot installations adjacent to stormwater outfalls on the beach. "We're a scientist, so we hypothesize that, yes, we would reduce beach closures," Paul Mitchell said, adding that state monitoring data gives the model strength. He asked only for a letter of support and no financial commitment; the board voted to forward the draft letter.
Supervisors asked staff to meet with the presenters so county staff understand access, permitting and the list of prioritized outfalls the researchers expect to produce.
Ending: Both the collection permission and the motion to forward the letter to EPA were approved on voice votes; staff were asked to follow up to document permissions and coordination details.
