Sulphur River Basin Initiatives Southern Miller County Rural Development Authority
SMCRDA Goals and Mission Mission Statement The citizens of southern Miller County formed a Rural Development Authority for the purpose of securing funding for planning & developing the necessary infrastructure to support economic development along the I-49 corridor in southern Miller County. • Develop opportunities for tourism • Provide utilities for I-49 interchange development • Work to enhance rural Miller County cities • Promote a lock/dam on the Red River for navigational purposes • Repurpose the abandoned Bright Star School campus SMCRDA.ORG 2
SMCRDA Goals and Mission Mission Statement The citizens of southern Miller County formed a Rural Development Authority for the purpose of securing funding for planning & developing the necessary infrastructure to support economic development along the I-49 corridor in southern Miller County. Board Members Deryl Jones – Chairman Lonnie Hazel – Vice Chairman Bill Poynter Kelli Barnett Mark Aaron Cheryl Pilgreen - Secretary SMCRDA.ORG 3
Vicinity Map 4
Restoration of the Sulphur River WMA • Management of Sulphur River to allow inflow to the cut off lakes, sloughs and oxbows • Operation of all flood gates to maintain water levels/introduce fresh water • Erosion control and bank stabilization • Allowing primitive camping at all sites • Maintenance of all roads/boat ramps • Bush hogging of trails/use areas • Removal of deadfall from water ways, trails and roads 5
Mercer Bayou July 2015 December 2015 6
Mercer Bayou Boat Ramp July 2015 July 2016 December 2015 7
Bank Erosion of the Sulphur River Point of significant erosion June 2013 Point of significant erosion January 2015 8
Confluence of Sulphur and Red Rivers December 2015 July 2016 9
Bank Erosion of the Sulphur River 10
Debris Coming to a Lock and Dam Near You! The Great Red River Raft 11
Where to From Here? • SMCRDA requests to be the local sponsor and/or a sponsoring partner for all projects - 1135 Restoration Project with Corps of Engineers - Bank Restoration and Protection with Corps of Engineers and State - Environmental Restoration of the Ecosystem with the State 12
What is an 1135 Project? • Section 1135 of the Water Resources Development Act of 1986 as amended allows the Corps of Engineers to assist in the restoration of degraded ecosystems through the modification of Corps of Engineers’ structures, operations, or implementation of measures in affected areas. 13
How Much does it Cost? • An initial study is performed being 100% federally funded up to $100,000 • Additional costs above $100,000 are shared 50/50 • If the project is found to qualify for the 1135 program: • Design and construction costs are split 75% Federal 25% non-Federal • Federal match cap is $5,000,000, with the Project Sponsor assuming responsibility for all additional costs • Non-Federal cost share can be a contribution of cash, lands, easements, right-of-ways, relocation areas, disposal areas or work-in-kind 14
USACE 1135 Project Goals • Restore water supply to depleted cutoffs, sloughs, oxbows and lakes • Benefits – Reduce erosion and protect propety – Restore habitat for fish and aquatic life – Provide areas for further WMA park development 15
Future Initiatives • Economic assistance for developing I-49 corridor – Restore depleted Sparta aquifer – Restore Sulphur River and Mercer Bayou area to natural state – Increase habitat for game and fish • Work with state agencies to increase public use of the WMA • Bring Jobs to the Area 16
Questions? SMCRDA.ORG 17
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