MISSISSIPPI PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS
Natural Resource Damage Assessment
Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill
We are now in our 5th year of the Natural Resource Damage Assessment in response to the Deepwater Horizon Oil
Spill. As you know from coverage in the media, an agreement in principle was reached between the trustees and BP
on July 2, 2015. State agencies from Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana and Texas were involved as well as
the Department of Commerce (NOAA), the Department of the Interior, Department of Defense, EPA, Department of
Agriculture, and Department of Justice. The agreement language must still be hammered out (expected in early
2016), followed by a period of public comment, then agreement by the court after which it will become final, and
the trustees can move fully into the restoration phase.
At present, the trustees have negotiated 4 phases of early restoration projects, allocating nearly $900 million towards
various restoration projects. Projects include living shorelines, recreational enhancements, creating bird habitat,
land acquisition, and sea turtle enhancement, to mention only a few.
Fish Tissue Monitoring Program
The Fish Tissue Monitoring Program has been reinstated after being put on hold as a result of the Deepwater
Horizon oil spill.Twenty-five Mississippi Delta sites where chosen to monitor for an existing DDT and Toxaphene
Advisory placed in 2001. Eighty-five fish samples have been collected thus far this year, with another six sites to be
sampled. We expect to see lower levels of DDT and Toxaphene in this region that could modify the existing
advisory.
Ambient Beach Monitoring
Sampling for MDEQ's ambient beach monitoring program continues and includes 21 sites along the 3 coastal
counties. MDEQ is making some changes to the Beach Monitoring Program. Beginning October 1, 2015, MDEQ
will be conducting the field sampling and upkeep of the newly redesigned website.
Ambient Coastal Monitoring
MDEQ has continued an effort to monitor the water quality of along the state’s 3 coastal county areas. Currently 37
probabilistic sites will be used to assess the water quality of the Gulf Coast.
This program is crucial to evaluating the quality of coastal waters as communities rebuild and grow following
Hurricane Katrina and the Deep Water Horizon Incident. It is additionally imperative as the implementation of the
Governor’s Gulf Region Water and Wastewater Plan comes into effect.
Gulf of Mexico Alliance
MDEQ along with its sister Gulf of Mexico states has taken an active role in supporting the Gulf of Mexico
Alliance, and it’s Governors’ Action Plan for Healthy and Resilient Coasts. This plan is aimed at protecting and
restoring water quality and habitat in the Gulf of Mexico and its estuaries, and improving public awareness of the
Gulf through environmental education. The Alliance is devoted to accomplishing these goals through regional
collaboration within the 5 US Gulf of Mexico States and it neighboring 6 Mexican states. Current information is
available at the Gulf of Mexico Alliance website http://www.gulfofmexicoalliance.org/welcome.html
Ambient Fecal Monitoring
Ambient fecal monitoring is continuing and includes approximately 47 sites. Our personnel are currently collecting
samples from primary recreational areas throughout the state.
Ambient Fixed Station Monitoring
Ambient fixed station monitoring continues and includes approximately 30 sites. Our personnel are collecting
samples from bridges throughout the state.
Wadeable Streams/§303d Monitoring
MDEQ has currently completed its ninth year of
wadeable streams sampling. Results from this
BISQ effort will be used to assess the status of
§303(d) listed water bodies and to steer future
biological monitoring and assessment activities
are focused on wadeable streams and rivers.
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Ambient Lake Monitoring
Ambient lake monitoring continues and includes the sampling of 20 lakes. Our personnel are currently collecting
samples from lakes throughout the state.
Personnel
This past year we welcomed three new faces – Cody Richey, Mindy Ansley and Zach Cuda – to our Surface Water
Monitoring Section ranks, led by Alice Dossett. Cody graduated from Mississippi State University with a degree in
Wildlife Agriculture Conservation; Mindy graduated from the University of Mississippi with a degree in
Toxicology; and Zach Cuda graduated from Millsaps College with degrees in Biology & Philosophy. We welcome
these folks onboard they are currently learning to walk the fire path.
We recently welcomed Dennis “Kyle” Mabry to the Compliance and Enforcement Monitoring Section which is led
by Mike Beiser. Kyle is our section’s biologist at the North Regional Office in Oxford. Kyle is from Senatobia, MS
and has lived there all his life. He is a graduate of Senatobia High School in 2008 and attended Northwest MS
Community College. Then he went to Mississippi State University, graduating in December of 2013 with a
Bachelor's of Science degree in Wildlife, Fisheries, and Aquaculture Sciences. Kyle has been at DEQ for 11 months
(10 as a contractor and 1 as full-time employee).