Mississippi is a state rich in natural resources, with more than 40 miles of coastline on the Gulf of Mexico, 450 square miles of open water and five major river systems. Approximately half of Mississippi is comprised of forests, with the US Forest Service owning the largest percentage of public land in the state. And, Mississippi is home to more than a half-million hunters and anglers who greatly contribute to the state and local economies. Protecting these natural and economic resources requires a coordinated strategy and multiple partnerships. The Mississippi Wildlife Action Plan has identified 297 species and 64 habitats of greatest need and prioritized them. Together with partners such as SARP, Mississippi is reaching out to stakeholders and focusing on conserving its unique biodiversity for the ecological and economic benefit of the entire state.

Mississippi State Wildlife Action Plan

Learn more about conservation in Mississippi here and here.

SARP Contact:  Larry Pugh, Assistant Chief, Freshwater Fisheries Division, Mississippi Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Parks

Key Focus Areas:

AQUATIC HABITAT CONSERVATION
Bennett Bayou Tidal Marsh

AQUATIC NUISANCE SPECIES (ANS)
Bennett Bayou Tidal Marsh 
 
MISSISSIPPI ANS Management Project
Current Status of ANS Management Plan: Last round of internal revisions.
SARP ANS Contact: Henry Folmar, Mississippi Dept. of Environmental Quality
For more information: http://www.mdwfp.com/level2/fisheries/reports/SOSF_06.pdf
SARP ANS Coordinator:Jeffrey Herod 

Program Activity:

SOUTHEAST AQUATIC HABITAT PLAN (SAHP)
Bennett Bayou Tidal Marsh

SOUTHEASTERN INSTREAM FLOW NETWORK (SIFN)
MISSISSIPPI Instream Flow Project
Current Instream Flow Policy:  The Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ), with oversight by the Commission on Environmental Quality (CEQ) have responsibility to determine minimum flows and administer them through a surface water withdrawal permit program under state statute (Miss. Code Ann. § 49-2 and § 51-3).  The Permit Board takes actions on the water withdrawal permits administered by the MDEQ.  “Minimum flow” is defined as 7Q10 or any other stream flow rate that the CEQ may determine and establish using generally accepted scientific methodologies considering biological, hydrological and hydraulic factors. Both the CEQ and the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks (MDWFP) can conduct instream flow studies.   In addition the Water Resources Advisory Council can also conduct any studies, analyses or evaluations related to the state water management plan, which is not yet under development as of February 2009.

Mississippi SIFN Team:

• Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks
• Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality
• Yazoo-Mississippi Delta Joint Water Management District
• Tombigbee River Valley Water Management District
• Mississippi Water Resources Research Institute
• CC Lynch & Associates
• The Nature Conservancy

SARP SIFN Contact:  Dennis Riecke, Biologist, MDWFP; Robert Seyfarth, MS DEQ

SIFN Coordinator:  Marilyn Barrett-O’Leary

Instream Flow Updates:

May 2010:

Current Instream Flow Policy: The Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ),

with oversight by the Commission on Environmental Quality (CEQ), has responsibility to

determine minimum flows and administer them through a surface water withdrawal permit

program under state statute (Miss. Code Ann. S 49-2 and S 51-3). The Permit Board takes

actions on the water withdrawal permits administered by MDEQ. “Minimum flow” is defined a

7Q10 or any other stream flow rate that the CEQ may determine and establish using generally

accepted scientific methodologies considering biological, hydrological and hydraulic

factors.

While the State is blessed with abundant groundwater resources, it is recognized that there

is a growing potential for increased surface water use. Currently, the surface water

resource is managed through the implementation of water management plans and issuance of

permits for withdrawals. An area of focus will be the Yazoo River Basin, referred to as the

Delta. This fertile agricultural region has experienced high groundwater usage for crop

irrigation and aquaculture. Therefore, the State is currently reviewing and revising water

management plans and making changes to water use permits to promote conservation of

groundwater and reduce pressure on surface water usage. The State is also focusing on

potential water quality issues related to groundwater and surface water supplies. A

Nutrient Reduction Strategy for the Delta has been developed and will offer opportunities

to address quantity issues as well. 

Dec. 2010:

MS Wildlife Federation had a clean water summit. Dennis Reicke gave a talk on stream flow issues (7Q10) to build river advocacy group. MDEQ is working on numeric nutrient criteria and changing permit requirements in cooperation with EPA. Yazoo Water District is working on conservation measures to get better permit conditions.  They are requiring metering devices ($10.00/10-year permit).

Not much has changed in the state since the last workshop in Nashville. MS DEQ is researching what has been done by neighboring states and nationwide.. Mississippi developed  a water plan in 1985 but it was never adopted and is not adequate for today.  We are looking at developing a comprehensive plan. We are also considering minimum (environmental)  flows and lake levels, as well as wetlands and the relationship of wetlands along streams related to environmental flows. Mississippi is rich in groundwater resources. However, we are seeing a potential for more use of surface water. This has prompted us to look at environmental flows.

(MS DEQ) State wants to attach groundwater permits to flow as a conservation approach.

USGS, MS Water Science Center notes that interest in instream flow is up in the state right now.