Historic, Archive Document Do not assume content reflects current scientific knowledge, policies, or practices. YAZOO-MISSISSIPPI RIVER BASIN STUDY MISSISSIPPI UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE SOIL CONSERVATION SERVICE ECONOMIC RESEARCH SERVICE FOREST SERVICE IN COOPERATION WITH OTHER FEDERAL AND STATE AGENCIES JACKSON, MISSISSIPPI JUNE 1975 r YAZOO-MISSISSIPPI RIVER BASIN STUDY ^ MISSISSIPPI Prepared by UNITED SJATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE r Soil Conservation Service Economic Research Service Forest Service Jackson, Mississippi June 1975 . 6.X)344 PREFACE This study encompasses the entire Yazoo River Basin located in the State of Mississippi. The report contains a description of the basin's resources and identifies problems, needs, and alternative solutions for meeting the problems and needs. A recommended early- action plan and a long-range plan was formulated to schedule de- velopment features. The study emphasizes the need for coordination between the Corps of Engineers and the Soil Conservation Service's planning efforts and project installations. The most critical prob- lem areas and needs requiring close planning and coordination are identified. A supplemental study for part of the basin has been approved. This study will investigate the need for additional flood damage reduction and the control of erosion and sediment. All alternatives solutions and recommended plan elements will be coordinated with the Corps of Engineers' planned and installed outlets and other structural measures. This supplemental area includes all of the upland area below the Corps of Engineers' reservoirs and the delta area east of the Yazoo, Tallahatchie, and Coldwater Rivers. These areas are re- ferred to in this study as areas 9, 8E, and a small part of area 8W below Yazoo City. This supplemental study begins in July, 1975. The scheduled completion date depends to some extent on the progress of the present Corps of Engineers' study in the Yazoo Basin. The Corps' study will provide data on proposed schedules for the planning and installation of their projects. These schedules and project mea- sures will control the planning and installation of USDA projects. The present supplemental USDA study extends for a period of about two years but will be controlled by the above items if full co- ordination occurs. A supplemental report will be prepared and study results will be limited to specific items that relate to the objectives of the supplement. It is expected that the report will recommend in greater detail means of reducing flood damages, be more specific concerning reduction of erosion and sediment problems, and provide a proposed schedule of watershed projects for future planning that is fully coordinated with the Corps of Engineers' planning and installation priorities ADDENDUM NUMBER 1 YAZOO -MISSISSIPPI RIVER BASIN STUDY MISSISSIPPI This addendum shows the results of using an interest rate of 5 7/8 percent for a 100 year evaluation period to determine benefits and costs for the early action plan. In the report 6 7/8 percent interest with a 100 year evaluation period was used in the upland and Delta areas whereas 5 1/2 percent interest was used for stream- bank stabilization. Current normalized prices were used to deter- mine benefits in all cases. Comparison of annual benefits to annual costs Total Annual Annual : Benefit to Areas and item benefits : costs : cost Dol lars Dollars Ratio Upland areas 5,641,164 2,459,400 : 2.3:1 Delta areas 8,034,800 2,499,600 : 3.2:1 Streambank stabilization 3,691,700 : 2,141,400 1.7:1 YAZOO-MISSISSIPPI RIVER BASIN STUDY TABLE OF CONTENTS Chapter Page I INTRODUCTION . „ o . c o . » 1-1 Background of the Study 1-1 Study 1958-1960 1-2 Study 1968-197'^ 1-2 Study 1970-1975 1-2 Objective 1-2 Authority 1-3 Participants 1-3 Nature, Scope, and Intensity of Investigations . 1-4 Delineation of Basin Subareas 1-5 II NATURAL RESOURCES OF THE BASIN 2-1 Location 2-1 Climate 2-1 Physiography and Geology 2-3 Major Land Resource Areas and Soils 2-9 Topography and Drainage System 2-11 Water Resources 2-13 Surface Water Quantity 2-13 Surface Water Quality 2-17 Ground Water Quantity and Quality » 2-19 Vegetation 2-23 Fish and Wildlife 2-24 Minerals 2-29 Stream Characteristics 2-30 Environmental Features 2-34 Historical Aspects 2-36 III THE BASIN ECONOMY 3-1 General 3-1 Approach and Methodology 3-1 The General Framework of Assumptions 3-2 Limitations 3-3 History 3-3 Population 3-4 Employment . „ 3-5 Personal Income 3-7 Per Capita Income 3-8 Agriculture and Related Economic Activity 3-9 National Production Requirements 3-9 Yazoo-Mississippi Basin Production Requirements . 3-11 Cotton „ 3-11 Soybeans 3-11 i TABLE OF CONTENTS Chapter Page III Corn 3-13 Rice 3-15 Wheat 3-15 Grain sorghum 3-15 Oats 3-16 Beef and veal 3-16 Pork 3-16 Lamb and mutton 3-16 Chickens 3-16 Broilers 3-17 Turkeys 3-17 Eggs 3-17 Milk 3-17 Farm Income . 3-17 Farm Structure 3-18 Farms 3-19 Farms by Size 3-20 Farms by Type 3-20 Land in Farms 3-20 Economic Class of Farms 3-21 Tenure 3-21 Forest Economy 3-21 Economic Importance of Fish and Game 3-25 Transportation. 3-29 Relationship of Economic Development and Land and Water Resource Development 3-31 IV WATER AND RELATED LAND RESOURCE PROBLEMS AND NEEDS. 4-1 General 4-1 Water Withdrawals 4-2 Municipal Water Supply 4-2 Present Status 4-2 Future Needs 4-4 Industrial Water Supply 4-4 Present Status 4-4 Future Needs 4-5 Rural Domestic Water Supply 4-5 Present Status 4-5 Future Needs 4-6 Thermoelectric Power Water Supply 4-7 Present Status 4-7 Future Needs 4-7 Irrigation Water Supply 4-8 Present Status 4-8 Future Needs 4-9 11 TABLE OF CONTENTS Chapter Page IV Livestock Water Supply 4-10 Present and Future Needs 4-10 Mineral Water Supply 4-12 Present Status 4-12 Future Needs 4-12 Fish and Wildlife Water Supply 4-12 Present Status 4-12 Future Needs 4-13 Commercial Fisheries Water Supply 4-13 Present Status 4-13 Future Needs 4-13 Summary of Water Supply Needs ... 4-15 Land 4-15 Cropland . 4-15 Present Status 4-15 Future Needs 4-17 Pasture 4-17 Present Status 4-17 Future Needs 4-18 Other Land 4-18 Present Status 4-18 Future Needs 4-18 Urban and Built-up Lands 4-18 Present Status 4-18 Future Needs 4-20 Commercial Fish Farming 4-20 Present Status 4-20 Future Needs 4-20 Mineral Land 4-21 Present Status 4-21 Future Needs 4-21 Forestry 4-21 Present Status 4-21 Future Needs 4-22 Flooding 4-24 Erosion and Sediment 4-28 General 4-28 Present Status 4-32 Future Needs 4-35 Lands With a Wetness Hazard 4-36 General 4-36 Present Status 4-36 Future Needs 4-36 ill TABLE OF CONTENTS Chapter Page IV Recreation 4-36 Present Status 4-40 Future Needs 4-45 Tourism 4-45 Fish and Wildlife 4-49 Present Situation-Hunting Resources 4-54 Needs-Hunting Resource 4-56 Agricultural Pollutants 4-56 Insecticides . 4-56 Plant Nutrients 4-61 Nitrogen 4-62 Phosphorus 4-65 Animal Waste 4-66 Industrial Waste Production 4-69 Municipal Waste Production 4-71 Health Aspects 4-72 General 4-72 Present Status 4-73 Future Needs 4-76 V WATER AND LAND RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT POTENTIAL .... 5-1 Availability of Land for Development 5-1 Cropland Suitable for Regular Cultivation .... 5-1 Potential Shift from Grassland to Cropland .... 5-3 Potential Shift of Forest to Cropland 5-3 Recommended Shift of Cropland to Grassland and Forests 5-3 Impoundments 5-4 Ground Water Developments 5-4 Channel Improvements and Levees 5-7 Irrigation Systems 5-8 Water Quality Concrol 5-9 Water Table Control 5-10 Recreation 5-10 Fish and Wildlife 5-11 Associated Land Treatment and Land Use Adjustment . 5-12 VI EXISTING WATER AND RELATED LAND RESOURCE PROJECTS AND PROGRAMS 6-1 Soil Conservation Service 6-1 Soil Conservation Service Establishing Act (Public Law 46) 6-1 iv TABLE OF CONTENTS Chapter Page VI Flood Control Act (Public Law 534) 6-1 Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention Act (Public Law 566) 6-3 Resource Conservation and Development Projects . 6-7 U. S, Forest Service 6-10 National Forest Systems 6-10 Holly Springs National Forest 6-10 Delta National Forest 6-10 State and Private Forestry 6-11 Cooperative Forest Management (CFM) Program . 6-11 Tree Seedling Production (CM-4) 6-11 Forest Products Utilization (FPU) 6-11 General Forestry Assistance (GFA) 6-12 Yazoo-Little Tallahatchie Flood Prevention Project 6-12 Research 6-12 Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation Service 6-13 Water Bank Program 6-13 Farmers Home Administration 6-14 USDA Sedimentation Laboratory 6-14 Corps of Engineers 6-16 Mississippi Board of Water Commissioners 6-17 Planning and Development Districts 6-19 Soil Conservation Districts 6-21 Mississippi Game and Fish Commission 6-21 Mississippi Park Commission 6-22 Extension Service 6-22 Mississippi Forestry Commission 6-22 Delta Council 6-24 VII ALTERNATIVE SOLUTIONS 7-1 General 7-1 Water Supply 7-1 Land 7-1 Baseline Water and Related Land Use 7-3 Cropland 7-3 Pasture 7-3 Forest 7-5 Other Lands 7-5 Urban and Built-up 7-5 Recreation Land 7-5 Wildlife Lands 7-5 Natural Areas 7-5 V TABLE OF CONTENTS Chapter Page VII Without Further Water and Related Land Resource Development 7-6 Cropland 7-6 Pasture 7-6 Forest 7-6 Other Land 7-8 Urban and Built-up 7-8 Recreation Land 7-8 Wildlife Lands 7-8 Natural Areas 7-8 With Accelerated Water and Related Land Resource Development 7-8 Cropland 7-8 Pasture 7-10 Forest 7-10 Other Land 7-10 Urban and Built-up 7-10 Recreation Land 7-10 Wildlife Lands 7-10 Natural Areas 7-10 Flood Damage Reduction 7-11 Channels 7-18 Streambank Erosion 7-21 Erosion and Sediment 7-22 Excessive Wetness 7-22 Recreation 7-23 Fish and Wildlife 7-25 Water Quality 7-26 Agricultural Pollutants 7-27 Health Aspects 7-29 VIII RECOMMENDED PLAN 8-1 Land • .