GOMESA Application Details
- Internal Project Number
- 271393
- 1. Title of Project
- Coastal Waterways Inventory
- 2. Location of Project
- Hancock, Harrison and Jackson Counties
- 3. Requesting Organization
- Southern Mississippi Planning and Development District
- 4a. Name
- Leonard Bentz
- 4b. Position
- 4c. Phone Number
- 228-868-2311
- 4d. Fax Number
- 4e. Address Line 1
- 10441 Corporate Drive
- 4e. Address Line 2
- Suite 1
- 4e. City, State Zip
- Gulfport, MS
- 4f. Email
- lbentz@smpdd.com
- 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
- 8. Total Project Funds Amount
- $2,000,000
- 9. Project Description/Overview
- Maintaining safe and navigable waterways along the Mississippi Gulf Coast is critical for commercial and recreational vessels, local fisheries, and the region’s economic vitality, yet many non-federal channels, bayous, and harbor access routes have not been systematically assessed for sediment accumulation or dredging needs. This project will fund a comprehensive dredging needs assessment and coastal waterways inventory, integrating bathymetric surveys, shoaling analyses, and hydrologic data, while also evaluating submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV) to ensure that future maintenance activities support both navigation and ecological health. By combining infrastructure assessment with environmental stewardship, the project will provide a data-driven foundation for prioritizing dredging operations, optimizing sediment management, evaluate potential SAV mitigation options, and protecting vital estuarine habitats that sustain fisheries, water quality, and coastal resilience.
- 10. Project Goals/Objectives
- Project Goals 1. Assess current navigation conditions in coastal Mississippi waterways to identify areas where sediment accumulation compromises vessel access and infrastructure safety. 2. Develop a comprehensive coastal waterways inventory that catalogs rivers, bayous, channels, and harbor access points, including their depths, widths, and dredging history. 3. Evaluate submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV) presence and health to ensure dredging and sediment management practices support ecological integrity. 4. Provide data-driven recommendations for prioritizing maintenance dredging, sediment placement and SAV mitigation that balances navigation needs, coastal restoration, and wetland protection. 5. Enhance coastal resilience by linking navigation infrastructure planning to wetland and estuarine ecosystem health, supporting storm surge mitigation and hurricane protection. Project Objectives 1. Conduct bathymetric surveys of targeted waterways to measure current depths and sediment accumulation rates. 2. Compile and analyze historical dredging records, USACE permits, and municipal maintenance data. 3. Map submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV) distribution using field surveys and remote sensing to inform dredging planning. 4. Identify critical shoaling zones and high-priority navigation areas that require immediate or periodic maintenance. 5. Develop a geospatial inventory and database integrating waterways, dredging needs, SAV locations, and environmental sensitivity. 6. Produce a report with recommendations for future dredging priorities, sediment management, habitat protection, including recommendations for potential SAV mitigation, to support coastal restoration and infrastructure resiliency.
- 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: This project directly supports the authorized use of coastal protection and restoration by providing critical data to guide maintenance dredging and sediment management in waterways that are integral to the health and function of Mississippi’s coastal wetlands and estuarine systems. By systematically identifying shoaling areas, navigation bottlenecks, and sediment accumulation patterns, the project enables targeted dredging that maintains access to harbors and marinas while minimizing unintended impacts to adjacent wetlands. Incorporating submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV) surveys ensures that dredging plans account for and protect vital aquatic habitats, which contribute to water quality, shoreline stabilization, and overall wetland resilience. The resulting inventory and assessment will allow coastal managers to prioritize dredging and sediment placement in ways that reinforce wetland conservation, support infrastructure vulnerable to wetland loss, and enhance the capacity of natural systems to buffer storm surge and hurricane impacts.
- (B) Mitigation of damage to fish, wildlife, or natural resources.
- (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
- Procure Engineering Team - Q1-Q2 Complete Coastal Waterways Inventory to include dredging needs analysis, SAV inventory, and SAV mitigation options Q3-Q6 Present study findings to DMR, Elected officials and community stakeholders Q7-Q8
- 13. Project Timing
- Short-term
- 14. Current status of architectural/engineering plans & specifications for this project (if applicable):
- Other N/A 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?
- This project supports the goal of enhancing, protecting, and conserving the marine interests of Mississippi’s coastal residents by providing the scientific data and planning framework needed to responsibly manage coastal waterways and estuarine habitats. By conducting a comprehensive dredging needs assessment and coastal waterways inventory, the project will identify areas where sediment accumulation threatens navigation, fisheries access, and coastal infrastructure while also evaluating submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV), which serves as critical habitat for fish, shellfish, and other marine species. Integrating bathymetric data, sediment dynamics, and SAV mapping will allow coastal managers to prioritize dredging activities in ways that minimize ecological impacts, protect sensitive habitats, and promote beneficial sediment management strategies that support wetland conservation and coastal resilience. The resulting data and recommendations will help ensure that navigation infrastructure and marine ecosystems are managed sustainably, preserving access to coastal resources, supporting local fisheries and economies, and safeguarding the long-term health of Mississippi’s coastal waters for current residents and future generations.
- 16. Estimated Years To Completion
- 2
- 17. Estimated Completion Date
- 6/30/2028
- Budget:
- Salaries,Wages, Fringe
- $74,584
- Travel
- $725
- Architecture & Engineering
- Legal
- Consulting
- $1,906,045
- Construction
- Site Work
- Equipment
- Indirects
- $18,646
- Other
- Total
- $2,000,000
- Application Submission Date
- 03/12/2026
- Fiscal Year
- 2027
- Project Status
- Application Status
- Submitted
- Meets Criteria
- Internal Notes:
- Attachments:
- Hyperlink:
- Attachments