$171M headed for South MS to fund scores of coastal projects. Here’s the list

The Mississippi Legislature this session appropriated more than $171 million in funding for coastal projects, using funds from Gulf oil leases and state leases on commercial tidelands.

The Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act (GOMESA) directs funds that the federal government collects from offshore oil leases to Gulf states, while the Mississippi Secretary of State’s Office manages commercial leases on tidelands, or state water bottoms subject to the ebb and flow of the tides. The Mississippi Department of Marine Resources, headquartered on the Coast, manages both programs.

Last year, a legislative impasse over the state budget meant no funds were released for those programs.

Sen. Scott Delano, chair of the Senate Ports and Resources Committee, said Friday, “We didn’t do projects last year, so this list has two years’ worth of projects.”

Of particular note, Delano said, is a $2 million Coastal Waterways survey through the Southern Mississippi Planning and Development District that should save money in the future on permits for dredging coastal waterways. Applications for the federal permits have been submitted for individual projects, he said, an involved process that takes time and eats into available funds.

The survey will hopefully allow counties to apply for “umbrella permits,” Delano said, that cover all projects in their jurisdictions for 10 years.

“Our goal with doing this umbrella permit is to spend tidelands money more efficiently for clearing and dredging some of these waterways,” he said.

Another $1.2 million will assist DMR and its partner, nonprofit Mississippi Gulf Fishing Banks Inc., with construction of artificial fishing reefs, primarily for red snapper fishing.

GOMESA projects: $152,701,468

Hancock County

• $4 million: Citywide Sewer Rehabilitation, city of Bay St. Louis.
• $3.950 million: Center City Infrastructure Improvements Phase I, city of Waveland.
• $4 million: Dock C Bulkhead Replacement, Hancock County Port and Harbor Commission.
• $2 million: Drainage, Flood Prevention and Water Quality, city of Diamondhead.

Harrison County

• $2 million: Lighthouse Boardwalk Construction, city of Biloxi.
• $2.5 million: Citywide Sewer Interceptor Assessment, city of Gulfport.
• $2 million, Jones Park Sanitary Lift Station Renovation, city of Gulfport.
• $2.5 million: Northwest Bulkhead Improvements, city of Long Beach.
• $5.4 million: Harbor Bulkhead Wall Replacement, city of Pass Christian.
• $1.3 million: Hiller Park Nutrient Reduction and Stormwater Control, city of Biloxi

Jackson County

• $2 million: Estuary Habitat Restoration-Containment Berm, Jackson County Board of Supervisors.
• $5 million: Utility Relocation (Sewer) U.S. 90 Widening, city of Ocean Springs.
• $1 million: Utility Relocation (Sewer) U.S. 90 Widening, city of Gautier.
• $4 million: Signet Bulkhead Repair, Jackson County Board of Supervisors.
• $1.8 million: North Shoreline Enhancements, city of Moss Point.
• $2,941,675: Singing River Property Stormwater Infrastructure, city of Gautier.

DMR, USM, MSU, SMPDD

• $2 million: Coastal Waterways Inventory, Southern Mississippi Planning and
• Development District.
• $1,721,529: Evaluation and Monitoring of Marine Mammal Health, Mississippi State University.
• $5 million: Design and Fabrication of USM Teaching and Research Vessel, University of Southern Mississippi.
• $1 million: Mississippi Oyster Restoration and Enhancement, Dept. of Marine Resources.
• $1.2 million: Artificial Reef Construction in the Mississippi Sound, Dept. of Marine Resources.
• $2 million: Resources with Spat on Cultch Oyster Reef Restoration, Dept. of Marine Resources.

Tidelands projects: $18,360,000

Harrison County

• $500,000: Long Beach Harbor Northwestern Bulkhead Phase I, city Of Long Beach.
• $500,000: Courthouse Road Boat Launch and Jetties Improvement, city of Gulfport.
• $500,000: Kuhn Street Boat Launch Ramp Area Expansion, city of Biloxi.
• $340,000: East and West Harbor Breakwater Improvements, city of Pass Christian.
• $400,000: Oak Street South Pier and Docking Facility Construction, city of Biloxi.
• $500,000: Working Waterfront and Commercial Seafood Harbor Phase II, city of D’Iberville.

Jackson County

• $350,000: Moss Point South Shorelines Enhancement, city of Moss Point.
• $450,000: Webb’s Landing Boat Launch Parking Expansion, Jackson County Board of Supervisors.
• $400,000: Public Safety Improvements to River Park Piers Phase II, city of Pascagoula.
• $250,000: Shepard State Park Upgrades, city of Gautier.
• $250,000: Mary Walker Bayou, George Martin City Park Upgrades, city of Gautier.
• $375,000: Sioux Bayou Landing Erosion Control, Sioux Bayou Landing RV Resort LLC.
• $245,000: Entrance, Access and Parking Improvements at Gulf Coast Research Lab, University of Southern Mississippi.

Hancock County

• $450,000: Bayou Caddy Marina Improvements, Hancock County Board of Supervisors.
• $300,000: Municipal Harbor Beach Amenities and Improvements, city of Bay St. Louis.
• $300,000: Coleman Avenue Waterfront Improvements, city of Waveland.
• $450,000: McLeod Park Bulkhead Improvements on the Jourdan River, Hancock County Board of Supervisors.

Anita Lee

Sun Herald

601-909-0638

Anita, a Mississippi native, graduated with a journalism degree from the University of Southern Mississippi and previously worked at the Jackson Daily News and Virginian-Pilot, joining the Sun Herald in 1987. She specializes in in-depth coverage of government, public corruption, transparency and courts. She has won state, regional and national journalism awards, most notably contributing to Hurricane Katrina coverage awarded the 2006 Pulitzer Prize in Public Service. Support my work with a digital subscription