MOBILE DISTRICT PHOTO
SOUTH ATL ANTIC DIVISION
In a separate phase of the project, dune vegetation was planted on the fill of what had been the Camille Cut, with another project phase placing additional sand on the north side of the former Camille Cut area to complete its filling to designed final width and elevation. “Completion of Phase 4 is a huge accomplishment that enables the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers [USACE] and Mississippi to address additional requirements in the region,” said Col. Sebastien P. Joly, USACE Mobile District commander. “We’re excited to move into the final phase of the project.” At approximately $300 million, the Ship Island Restoration Project rivals USACE’s ongoing restoration project in the Florida Everglades and is a matter of pride and passion to the Mobile District team of engineering and environmental professionals, many of whom grew up along the Gulf Coast. The successful results of the project are also an invaluable resource to the state of Mississippi, as Ship Island and the other barrier islands in the region are the first line of defense to protect the Mississippi coastline against incoming hurricanes and tropical storms. 54
The Mississippi Coastal Improvements Program (MsCIP) was launched by the Mobile District in December 2005 in response to the major environmental damage to the Mississippi coastline and its barrier islands caused by Hurricane Katrina. The MsCIP mission is to build a more resilient coastal Mississippi through water resources-related projects throughout the state’s three coastal counties, addressing hurricane and storm damage reduction, salt water intrusion, shoreline erosion, and fish and wildlife preservation.
Justin McDonald, Mississippi Coastal Improvement Program manager, said the project is one of his most rewarding and a true success story. “It’s been one of the most rewarding projects I’ve ever worked on and it’s a true success story of federal and state agency collaboration,” McDonald said. “This project could not have been successful without the expertise and support of other agencies such as the National Park Service, U.S. Geological Survey, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the state of Mississippi, and many others. I’ve worked with some of the best and brightest in our profession to make this project a true success. It’s one that we are all proud of and will be happy to see it completed in the near future.”
