Controversy has surrounded the project, even after a public endorsement by the Mississippi Congressional delegation in January, including Congressman Bennie Thompson and Senators Thad Cochran and Trent Lott.

“This public briefing was held to give local residents and candidates for public office in this region the chance to get an update on the ongoing progress and need for the Yazoo Backwater Project,” Jim Wanamaker, Chief Engineer of the Mississippi Levee Board, said.

Wanamaker addressed the crowd about the history of the Project as well as snags the construction of the Project has encountered since being federally authorized in 1941.

“If we had the pumps today, we would have a foot and half less water where we are now,” Wanamaker told the audience. “This Project is designed to protect the area of the Delta from here to about Highway 12.

“Drainage from 41 percent of the continental United States goes past Vicksburg,” Wanamaker said. “That’s water from parts of 31 states and two provinces of Canada. In addition, water from 10 different Delta counties drain into the South Delta area to the Steele Bayou Structure and the sight of the proposed pumping plant. People here fear flooding every year, with good reason. Without the pumps, they have no assurance of not being flooded.”

Some residents on hand, including Ruby Johnson of Cary and Clifton Porter of Fitler, also spoke to the crowd, relaying their personal encounters with flooding problems. Many others carried signs expressing support for the Project and impatience with it’s delay.

Mississippi Governor Ronnie Musgrove, while not being able to attend the event, expressed his continued support of the Project and of the Mississippi Levee Board’s work in a phone call to Wanamaker.

Media representatives from all over the state were also on hand, including WLBT’s veteran news reporter/anchor Bert Case, resulting in the event being the Jackson station’s “Top Story” for their evening newscast. The following night, WXVT, Greenville’s CBS affiliate, featured an exclusive interview with Wanamaker about the briefing and the project to top their evening newscast. DBJ