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Harrison County urges Louisiana cooperation to halt proposed river diversion, adopts resolution
Summary
The Harrison County Board of Supervisors adopted a resolution encouraging coordination with Louisiana officials and the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority to seek alternatives to a proposed Mississippi River diversion that county officials say would harm Mississippi Sound, fisheries and tourism.
The Harrison County Board of Supervisors on June 30 approved a resolution asking Louisiana officials, including Gordon Dove of the Louisiana Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority, to pursue "win‑win" alternatives to a proposed Mississippi River diversion that county speakers said would damage Mississippi Sound and the region's seafood and tourism industries.
The resolution, introduced and discussed during the meeting, was presented to the board as part of a strategy that county representatives said included recent talks with Dove and a proposal to seek federal support for estuary protections. Mr. Blasey, who briefed the board, said participants discussed terminating the diversion project but acknowledged the need to document harms to avoid repaying prior federal expenditures.
Why it matters: County speakers described the diversion as a continuous re-routing of river water that could alter salinity and ecology in the Mississippi Sound, with downstream effects on oysters and tourism. The resolution cites a University of Southern Mississippi (USM) study and asks for cooperation from Louisiana to develop alternatives and documentation of harms that could support legislative or legal efforts.
In his report, Mr. Blasey said representatives from Louisiana indicated willingness to "terminate" the diversion pending documentation. He told the board that the Louisiana legislature recently cut funding for a related project; he referenced a funding change from "700 and something million to 6,000,000" and also mentioned a separate larger figure discussed in the meeting in relation to permit amendments. He also described a draft federal bill referenced in meeting materials as the "Mauve and Gulf Estuary Protection Act," which county representatives have shared with the congressional delegation to seek support for estuary protections.
Board members asked few follow‑up questions during the discussion. The board approved the resolution by voice vote after a motion and a second; no roll‑call tally was recorded in the meeting transcript.
Speakers and participants referenced in the discussion included Mr. Blasey (board member), Martis Frank (meeting organizer, role not specified in transcript), Marlon (participant, role not specified), and Keith Hurd (participant). The resolution text included references to the USM study and the county's proposed federal bill. Following the vote, a supervisor pointed out typos in the draft resolution and asked the clerk to correct them.
The resolution directs county leadership to support documentation and intergovernmental coordination; it does not itself compel any regulatory action by state or federal agencies. Board members framed the resolution as part of a broader strategy to build interjurisdictional support to protect the estuary and fisheries while seeking legislative remedies.
Ending: County staff and the board said they would continue outreach and follow up with Louisiana officials and the congressional delegation; the resolution and its supporting exhibits will remain part of the county's record for further action and outreach.
