GOMESA Application Details
- Internal Project Number
- 271352
- 1. Title of Project
- Jackson County Estuary Habitat Restoration - Containment Berm Project
- 2. Location of Project
- Restoration Site 1: Big Lake, Pascagoula River in Jackson County; Site 2: Old Fort Bayou in Jackson County
- 3. Requesting Organization
- Jackson County Board of Supervisors
- 4a. Name
- Barry Cumbest
- 4b. Position
- 4c. Phone Number
- (228) 769-3403
- 4d. Fax Number
- 4e. Address Line 1
- 2915 Canty Street P.O. Box 998
- 4e. Address Line 2
- 4e. City, State Zip
- Pascagoula, Mississippi
- 4f. Email
- Barry_Cumbest@co.jackson.ms.us
- 5. FundingRequested
- $2,000,000
- Awarded Amount:
- 6. Other State or Federal Funding Sources
- No
- 7a. Amount of Additional Funds
- 7b. Source of Additional Funds
- Jackson County
- 8. Total Project Funds Amount
- $2,600,000
- 9. Project Description/Overview
- Much of Jackson County's population lies in proximity to coastal, riverine, and estuarine waters. Because the local way of life and economy is deeply tied to the coastline, the maintenance of waterways and coastal bayous through dredging is as essential as roadway maintenance. As storm frequencies and intensities continue to increase, the dredging program in Jackson County has become a continuous, year-round endeavor, and interactions with submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV) and marsh grass impacts are unavoidable considerations for timely work. Recognizing that coastal resource conservation is a fundamental priority to the County, The Jackson County Board of Supervisors proposes an approximately 10-acre estuary habitat restoration project for two essential coastal habitat types within Jackson County: submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV) and estuarine marsh. The project includes the creation of Restoration Site I, an approximately 6.43-acre SAV site located in Big Lake in the Pascagoula River system, and Restoration Site II, an approximately 5.0-acre marsh site located in Old Fort Bayou near the Back Bay of Biloxi. The Board of Supervisors is requesting GOMESA grant funds to support the construction of a containment berm around each of the sites. The Board proposes to construct the berm with reclaimed sand dredged from planned USACE shipping channel maintenance projects within adjacent waterways, contingent upon site conditions and feasibility. Once this initial containment berm project is completed at each site, the water bottom elevation behind each berm will be raised to a level that will support SAV and marsh grass establishment and propagation as a part of the Jackson County Dredging Program. The containment berms will protect and support the future SAV and marsh grass restoration sites against tidal forces within the Pascagoula River and Old Fort Bayou. The Board of Supervisors is currently working with the United States Army Corps of Engineers–Mobile District to establish a permittee responsible mitigation (PRM) plan, which aims to address and reduce the regulatory review process timeline for wetland and SAV impacts done by County dredging. The completed Restoration Sites I & II will serve to mitigate for future marsh grass and SAV impacts that occur as a result of maintenance dredging efforts.
- 10. Project Goals/Objectives
- The project goal is to streamline and optimize the SAV mitigation permitting process for recurring waterway maintenance dredging performed by the County. The objective is to Construct containment berms for both Restoration Sites I & II, which will support the creation of 6.43 acres of submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV) habitat in Big Lake and 5.0 acres of estuarine marsh habitat in Old Fort Bayou.
- 11. Which of the following authorized uses set forth in the GOMESA Act does this project fall under?
- (A) Projects and activities for the purpose of coastal protection, including conservation, coastal restoration, hurricane protection, and infrastructure directly affected by coastal wetlands losses
- Yes: The County has many public access areas and waterfront property navigational routes that become buried with sediment that is deposited during storm events and everyday tidal and current movements. These local bayous serve as paths for recreation and industry-specific transportation, as well as marine evacuation routes for residents and emergency services during and after hurricane events. Further, by reducing built up sediment in local bayous, hydraulic efficiency is increased which reduces drainage and flooding problems. This project will support the County's effort to maintain these essential waterway routes.
- (B) Mitigation of damage to fish, wildlife, or natural resources.
- Yes: This project proposes to mitigate for impacts incurred through the County's waterway dredging program. The construction of this project will reestablish lost plant communities in a protected area designated by the County and preserved in perpetuity as part of the State of Mississippi's Tidelands Trust Program.
- (C) Implementation of a federally-approved marine, coastal, or conservation management plan.
- (D) Mitigation of the impact of Outer Continental Shelf activities through funding of onshore infrastructure projects.
- 12. Project Timetable/Milestones
- 1. Request Funding, September 2025 2. Complete Design, December 2025 3. PRM Approval, January 2026 4. Funding Award, April 2026 5. Award Bid, May 2026 6. Begin Construction, July 2026 7. Complete Construction, December 2026
- 13. Project Timing
- Short-term
- 14. Current status of architectural/engineering plans & specifications for this project (if applicable):
- In Progress Funds Budgeted
- 15. In what way does this project meet the goals and objectives of the Department of Marine Resources, which includes enhancing, protecting and conserving the marine interest of Mississippi for present and future generations?
- Jackson County has a growing number of neighborhoods containing waterfront properties with very restricted navigation access due to shallow water depths, as well as many public access areas such as boat launches, docks, and piers that become buried with sediment that is suspended and deposited during storm events. Not only do these local bayous serve as paths for recreation and industry-specific transportation, they serve as marine evacuation routes for businesses, residents, and emergency services during and after hurricane events. Further, by reducing built up sediment in local bayous, hydraulic efficiency is increased which reduces drainage and flooding problems. For these reasons, dredging is a continuous, year-round necessity in Jackson County, where unavoidable interactions with SAV and marsh habitats must be managed to balance navigation needs with ecological protection. Both SAV and marsh ecosystems are recognized as vital nurseries for various crustacean and bivalve species, foraging and nesting grounds for wading birds, and the first line of defense against biodiversity decline. Restoration Sites I & II aim to mitigate damage to natural resources by restoring essential habitat functions lost through dredging. Marsh and SAV communities impacted as a result of County dredging projects will be reestablished in a protected area designated by the County and preserved in perpetuity as part of the State of Mississippi's Tidelands Trust Program. The Board of Supervisors only proposes to use GOMESA grant funding for the construction of the sediment containment berms. Filling of the sites will coincide with future County dredging projects, utilizing dredged material with compatible soil composition to raise bottom elevations and support the successful establishment of target plant communities. Supplemental work, such as native plantings, invasive species removal, and monitoring, is proposed to be funded independently by the County. Jackson County has a vested interest in conserving Mississippi's marine resources, which support both its economy and its cultural heritage. As the populations and industries continue to grow in size and complexity, the need for waterway maintenance will only increase, requiring a more efficient plan for long-term stewardship of marine resources through the Jackson County Dredging Program. The construction of this project will allow the Jackson County Board of Supervisors to more efficiently maintain and implement dredging efforts across the County and effectively sustain the balance between ecological protection and infrastructure management.
- 16. Estimated Years To Completion
- 1
- 17. Estimated Completion Date
- 12/31/2026
- Budget:
- Salaries,Wages, Fringe
- Travel
- Architecture & Engineering
- $600,000
- Legal
- Consulting
- Construction
- $2,000,000
- Site Work
- Equipment
- Indirects
- Other
- Total
- $2,600,000
- Application Submission Date
- 09/16/2025
- Fiscal Year
- 2027
- Project Status
- Application Status
- Submitted
- Meets Criteria
- Internal Notes:
- Attachments:
- https://gomesa_internal/attachments/GOMESA_1352_COMPLETE.pdf
- Hyperlink:
- Attachments