FLOWOOD, MS (Mississippi News Now) -
Metro municipal leaders and the Levee Board are reviving a flood control plan that would create waterfront development and save businesses and homes from Pearl River floodwaters.
The Levee Board and the Army Corp of Engineers have announced they have entered into an agreement with the Pearl River Vision Foundation. The foundation will complete a feasibility and environmental study.
Jackson businessman John McGowan is funding the foundation. "The original plan was 2 lakes and about twice as expensive", says McGowan.
The project is now being called "one lake" and will create a large lake that would be able to handle rising water in the Pearl River, from overflowing it's banks near the metro area. It would also create a shoreline in Rankin and Hinds county that could be developed at the waterfront.
The studies are expected to take 15 months to complete.
Flowood Mayor Gary Rhoads says, "Everybody's on board, when you got people working together that's what it's about, all about teamwork."
The Pearl River Vision Foundation will roll out their plans to the public in about 90 days.
They're being privately funded by Jackson businessman John McGowan, who has been pushing for a flood control plan for more than a decade.
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