A close to 100-page report from the federal agency overseeing conservation in the U.S. says the One Lake project in Jackson is environmentally sound, rebuffing a cadre of critics who say it will have detrimental effects on water life animals.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service concluded the estimated $345 million flood control and economic development project "is not likely to jeopardize the continued existence" of either the Gulf sturgeon or the ringed map turtle.
A biological opinion is required from the federal agency for a project the scope of One Lake, according to the Endangered Species Act. The opinion is based on a revised Aug. 23 assessment from the Rankin Hinds Pearl River Flood and Drainage Control District, which is overseeing the One Lake Project.
"This report confirms what we have long believed based on our own environmental studies," said Robert Graham, Hinds County supervisor and district board member.
"Opponents have long claimed that the project would harm these species, but today the federal regulatory agency overseeing this issue had debunked that argument."
The opinion also said construction of the project, which involves the dredging and excavation of the Pearl River, would not impact water flow and sediment quality in the river, another common critique of environmentalists, especially those downstream.
"The BO concludes that the project is not likely to jeopardize the continued existence of these species and it is not likely to destroy or adversely modify designated critical habitat," the USFWS said.
Pearl River species not affected, report on One Lake says
Although the sturgeon and the turtle were the two species environmentalists raised the most concern over, the USFWS also in the opinion concluded three other species faced no danger. They are the wood stork, the Northern long-eared bat and the inflated heelsplitter, a species of freshwater mussel.
In the case of the Gulf sturgeon, the opinion said the addition of a fish passage around the proposed weir at the south end of the lake would make it "probable" the sturgeon could return to the area.
Andrew Whitehurst, the water program director of the nonprofit Healthy Gulf (formerly the Gulf Restoration Network), and a critic of One Lake said he is reviewing the report. He said the agency's tone shifted substantially from an earlier assessment.
"I wondered immediately what happened to that frank, tough tone by the writers at USFWS," he said in an email.
Louie Miller, state director of the Mississippi chapter of the Sierra Club, was not immediately available for comment.
Good news for One Lake supporters, but questions remain
The recent report is a positive development for project supporters. In the last year, One Lake has seen a flood of negative publicity. However, there are still concerns about the project, including its cost and safety.
In September 2018, U.S. Rep. Bennie Thompson said in a news release he "strongly objects" to the project and urged the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to reject it. Then, the congressman cited as "unacceptable" the environmental harm, cost to taxpayers and public health and safety impacts of the proposed project.
In December, it was revealed the Mississippi Department of Transportation said in an email to the district the One Lake Project proposal would result in the "catastrophic failure" of bridges on the Pearl River if allowed to proceed as planned.
Keith Turner, the attorney for the Rankin Hinds Pearl River Flood and Drainage Control District, said on Monday project details were expected to evolve as federal and state agencies and the public offered input.
"Projects of this size must go through a rigorous multiagency review process. The (district) has been conducting engineering and environmental studies for the past several years and working with state and federal regulatory agencies," he said.
Turner said the district will submit a completed Environmental Impact Study to the U.S. Corps of Engineers after addressing state agency and public concerns. He said he expects the review/approval process will last up to six months.
Contact Justin Vicory at 769-572-1418 or jvicory@gannett.com. Follow @justinvicory on Twitter.
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