INTRODUCTION

Providing Safety and Prosperity for Mississippi

The Yazoo-Mississippi Delta Levee Board is more than just members on a committee—the Board employs full time engineering, surveying, and forestry departments. The Board also employs trained and certified law enforcement to maintain safety on the levees, and the administrative department at the Board's headquarters oversees day to day operations. Twelve commissioners sit on the Board, and Bill Sheppard is the Chief Engineer. As amended by the Federal Flood Control Act of 1928, the Yazoo-Mississippi Delta Levee Board staff conducts day-to-day surveillance, maintenance, minor repairs, and primary high water operations. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is responsible for construction of new work, major maintenance, and in conjunction with the YMD Levee Board, the conduct of major flood fights. The maintenance of the mainline levee within the Yazoo-Mississippi Delta Levee District has been rated as "Outstanding" by the Corps of Engineers every year since 1958. The "Outstanding Maintenance" rating is a result of the programs and procedures practiced by the YMD Levee Board to assure that the levee remains in excellent, functional condition at all times.