PEOPLE AND COMMUNITY

Summary

People from the three counties that are covered by the project area report a decline in their communities.  Residents have identified aspects of their local environment and culture that need improvement.  Foremost among these changes is the prevention of backwater flooding which so drastically impacts their livelihood, transportation, infrastructure, education, industrial investment, and human condition.  While the project is recognized by the locals as being only one step in the improvement of their community, it is a critical and necessary step.

Population

The historic population by county from 1970 to 1990 is shown in Table 31.  The population of the study area has declined from 40,067 in 1970 to 33,226 in 1990, a 17.07 percent decline.  Both counties in the study area have shown significant decreases during this period.  Only Mississippi County experienced a slight increase during any decade shown.  From 1980 to 1990, Mississippi County’s population increased 1.91 percent.  The largest decrease during any one-decade was also in Mississippi County when its population decreased by 27.51 percent from 1970 to 1980.  This trend is typical of most rural agricultural based economies.  Many of the study area’s former residents have moved to more urbanized areas which offer better job opportunities.  This trend is reflected in nearby Scott County that showed a population decrease of 18.42 percent (33,250 to 29,376) over the 1970 to 1990 period.  Scott County includes the City of Sikeston with a 1990 population of 17,641.

Enterprise Community

The President’s designation of East Prairie, Missouri as an Enterprise Community provided the momentum to implement the First Phase of the St. Johns Bayou and New Madrid Floodway Project. The goal behind the Administration’s Enterprise Community designation is to create self sustaining, long-term economic development in areas of pervasive poverty, unemployment, and general distress through implementation of strategic plans.  The East Prairie Enterprise Community (EC) views the St Johns Bayou-New Madrid Floodway project as the first step it must take to implement an array of economic development and quality of life initiatives in East Prairie.  The EC recognizes that this project in itself will not solve its problems and generate economic prosperity.  However, it will significantly reduce the flooding problem that has prevented the EC from taking the necessary actions to achieve economic betterment.  The EC designation has proven to be a catalyst for forging a diverse coalition of local communities, agencies, and levee districts in direct support to the project.

For more information about the Enterprise Community program, and East Prairie in particular, please visit the Home of the Rural Empowerment Zone and Enterprise Community Program, and the East Prairie web site in particular at:

          http://www.ezec.gov/ezec/mo/prarie.html

In order to implement the First Phase of the St. Johns Bayou and New Madrid Floodway Project (First Phase Project), a gap in the mainline Mississippi River levees has to be closed.  This gap closure at the lower end of the Birds Point-New Madrid Floodway has not been constructed because local interests are reluctant to provide the necessary rights-of-way.  Local interests are concerned over the evacuation of interior drainage.  However, with the addition of the New Madrid Pumping Station as part of the First Phase Project, the local concerns are addressed and will allow the project to be implemented.  Authorized by the Flood Control Act of 1954 (PL 780-83), the 1,500 foot levee closure will feature four 10-foot concrete outlet culverts with lift gates.