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WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Roger Wicker, R-Miss., questioned Adam Telle, nominee to be Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works, on how he would ensure Army Corps of Engineers will work for Mississippians.

Senator Wicker began by asking Adam Telle if the Army Corps of Engineers would assist with DeSoto county’s wastewater treatment project.

“Let’s talk about a wastewater treatment project that involves the state of Mississippi and the state of Tennessee. About 48 years ago, a wastewater treatment facility was federally funded addressing the wastewater treatment needs in both of those areas. It was funded to the extent possible based on population numbers from the Mississippi area as well as the Memphis area. Some years ago, the folks north of the state line brought a suit and asked that the Mississippi customers be excluded from that treatment plan, and this went to court. We didn't feel it was fair, but the federal judge ruled that the Mississippi areas have to get on their own water treatment system by the year 2031. The only way we can possibly do that is to look to the federal government. The Army Corps of Engineers is a valuable part of this new project. Can you please commit to me that the Army Corps of Engineers will do everything possible to assist the DeSoto County Regional utility authority in building a new wastewater system before this judicially imposed 2031 deadline?” asked Senator Wicker.

“It's an issue that I have familiarity with from both sides of the state line. In 1992, Congress began authorizing the Corps of Engineers to take on projects generally described as environmental infrastructure. These are not the traditional navigation, flood control, aquatic ecosystem restoration types of projects that the Corps of Engineers has done, but it's had a great deal of interest from the Congress. I think that's going to continue, and I certainly commit to work with you in an area of DeSoto County and Shelby County, that I know well, to make sure that we get it right and we can facilitate to the degree that we're able DeSoto County's ability to meet the directive of the courts,” responded Mr. Telle.  

Senator Wicker continued by highlighting the importance of having stakeholders from Mississippi in the Army Corps of Engineers to weigh in on spillways.

“Let's talk about the Bonnet Carre spillway. We've already talked about how long the Mississippi River is and the Missouri River. Thirty one states contribute to what runs by the state of Louisiana and Mississippi, as it gets almost to the Gulf. By the time it gets there, it's full of bacteria, nutrients, fertilizer, runoff, sediment and other things leading to algae blooms in the Gulf. When the water gets high, there are a number of spillways that can be opened to prevent flooding of a number of very important areas. In 2019, the Bonnet Carre spillway was opened for a total of 123 days. It spilled into the Mississippi Sound, a salt water body important for fishing, changing it more into fresh water. This was hugely damaging, costing many, many jobs. We can't possibly have this happen again. There are times when the spillway can be opened to take some of the fresh water into a salt water area but not that much. Will you agree that the Army Corps should include stakeholders such as the Mississippi Sound coalition and stakeholders in both Louisiana, Arkansas, and Mississippi in a comprehensive study of which spillways are open?” asked Senator Wicker.

“Senator Wicker, I would gladly take input from stakeholders, as you rightly point out, there are facilities up and down the Mississippi Rivers. The Bonnet Carre which diverts water into Lake Pontchartrain, and ultimately, as you say, into the Mississippi Sound, affecting the ecosystems there. These are the types of tradeoffs that we have to discuss when we talk about operating the Corps of Engineers. Many facilities preventing a flood upstream may mean effects on places like the Mississippi Sound. It is very important that the Corps of Engineers has clear input from stakeholders from across a waterway, from up and down to understand the impacts. These are complex systems and we could use as much input as we could possibly get to try to make sure that we get the balance right,” responded Mr. Telle.

“Thank you for that answer, Madame Chairman. I realize we we've gone over, but it is a matter of thousands and thousands of jobs up and down the Mississippi River. Thank you,” concluded Senator Wicker.