Natchez, Miss. (Natchez Democrat) –
The State of Mississippi announced Monday it was suing the federal government over mud of all things.
You see the state has finally realized that flood control measures put into place more than half a century ago have greatly affected Mississippi land, in particular, public land belonging to local school districts.
The lawsuit brought forth by Secretary of State Delbert Hosemann and Attorney General Jim Hood is seeking $25 million or more to offset the functional loss of land that is damaged and often flooded due to floods of greater frequency.
The lawsuit alleges that the U.S. government is liable for the damage such as loss of timber incurred after the Old River Control Structure was built in the 1950s. The structure helps regulate the flow of the Mississippi River. If it were not there the river would take an easier path and divert its flow to the Atchafalaya River. That would leave the cities of Baton Rouge and New Orleans high and dry.
But, as the lawsuit points out, the control of the river has a cost and in Natchez-Adams County more than 5,500 acres of school property have been lost due to consistent flooding.
We applaud Hosemann and Hood for taking on the matter. Both men are currently running for higher office, Hosemann the lieutenant governor’s seat and Hood the governor’s mansion.
If they gain a little attention in the process that helps their campaign, so be it.
In the end the matter certainly seems like one worth fighting for.