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Commission backs MDEQ living‑shoreline plan for St. Louis Bay with conditions
Summary
The commission recommended approval of MDEQ's permit and variance to construct approximately 11,500 feet of living‑shoreline breakwater in St. Louis Bay, filling 17 acres of unvegetated coastal wetlands for ecological restoration; staff recommended conditions including an adaptive management plan, SAV surveys and Coast Guard coordination.
The commission reviewed a Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) proposal to construct a living‑shoreline system in St. Louis Bay near Diamond Head, involving the placement of breakwater structures totaling about 11,500 linear feet and a requested fill of 17 acres of unvegetated coastal wetlands to restore benthic productivity and reduce shoreline erosion.
Katie Nelson summarized the application materials and said the breakwaters would be installed in roughly 500‑foot segments with 30‑foot gaps and could be built of rock or bioengineered materials such as stacked oyster ring breakwaters. MDEQ sought a variance to allow permanent filling below the ordinary high water mark, justifying the change with an asserted net environmental benefit tied to restoration of habitats injured by the Deepwater Horizon incident.
Staff recommended approval with permit conditions including submission of an adaptive management plan for DMR review, coordination with the U.S. Coast Guard on navigational aids, preconstruction surveys for submerged aquatic vegetation during the growing season to be submitted at least 30 days before work, and final DMR staff sign‑off before construction.
The commission moved, seconded and approved the staff recommendation by voice vote.
Why it matters: The project proposes a substantial restoration footprint and includes a variance from standard coastal‑wetland fill rules. Staff and MDAH interagency comments required archaeological and submerged cultural surveys and a rent‑exempt lease from the Secretary of State for project placement on public trust tidelands.
What happens next: Staff will require the adaptive management plan, coordinate with federal navigation authorities, review SAV surveys if present, and issue a permit conditioned on those requirements.
