State
Lake mostly drained after dam breach in Mississippi
AP
BLACK HAWK, MISS.
Officials say the lake behind a Mississippi dam that breached Friday has mostly drained.
Dusty Myers, chief of the dam safety division for the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality, said Monday that Murdock Lake, which had been about 20 feet (6 meters) deep, has declined to less than 6 feet (1.8 meters) deep.
Watershed lake breach forces evacuations
Greenwood Commonwealth
Two homes in Carroll County were evacuated early Friday evening and a third was being encouraged to do so after a watershed lake breached near Black Hawk.
Later, a 2-mile stretch of Mississippi 17 was closed until further notice as a result of the flash flooding.
Gayle Beard, director of the Carroll County Emergency Operations Center, was on the scene at Murdock Lake, located five miles east of Black Hawk, with Beat 4 Supervisor Claude Fluker and two officials from the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality.
She said there were at least two breaches to the lake’s dam.
“It’s not just a gush right now, but DEQ does not know how fast it’s going to eat itself out,” Beard said shortly before 8:30 p.m.
The two-lane highway was closed southward from where it intersects with Mississippi 430, according to a statement late Friday from the state Highway Patrol. The area includes where Abiaca Creek flows under Mississippi 17.
Beard said DEQ would monitor the dam throughout the night.
Dusty Myers, chief of the Dam Safety Division with DEQ, said that it was not immediately certain what caused the breaches but that it appeared to be “an internal erosion failure” with the dam structure.
He said the heavy rainfall spawned earlier this week by Tropical Depression Gordon was probably a contributing factor. As much as 10 inches of rain fell in less than 24 hours in some parts of the county.
“Whatever caused this issue was already there,” Myers said. “When the water level came up and got into those defects,” the breaches followed.
Murdock Lake is one of about 125 dams built in Carroll County in the 1960s by the Natural Resources Conservation Service as a way to capture sediment from erosion and provide flood control downstream. Carroll County has more of these dams than anywhere else in the state, Myers said.
The National Weather Service said there was a limited threat of flash flooding Sunday evening in Carroll and Leflore counties. The forecast calls for an elevated chance of rain through early this coming week. Between 1 and 2 inches of rain were possible from Saturday evening through Sunday evening.
Water from breached dam contained so far
Greenwood Commonwealth
Authorities continued to monitor today the breach of a watershed lake near Black Hawk that has caused the evacuation of two homes and prompted the temporary closure of a nearby highway.
Shortly before noon, Gayle Beard, director of the Carroll County Emergency Operations Center, said the water pouring out of Murdock Lake had not yet caused the creeks downstream to overflow their banks.
She said that officials from the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality remained on the scene, and a coordinator from the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency was en route to help assess the situation.
At least two breaches in the lake's earthen dam, located 5 miles east of Black Hawk, were discovered around 6 p.m. Friday, and two homes downstream considered at risk of floodwaters were evacuated.
Late Friday, a 2-mile stretch of Mississippi 17 was closed southward from where it intersects with Mississippi 430. The area includes where Abiaca Creek flows under Mississippi 17.
The highway was reopened earlier today.
The area remains under a flash flood warning until 5 p.m. today.
Dusty Myers, chief of the Dam Safety Division with DEQ, said Friday that it was not immediately certain what caused the breaches but that it appeared to be “an internal erosion failure” with the dam structure.
He said the heavy rainfall spawned earlier this week by Tropical Depression Gordon was probably a contributing factor. As much as 10 inches of rain fell in less than 24 hours in some parts of the county.
“Whatever caused this issue was already there,” Myers said. “When the water level came up and got into those defects,” the breaches followed.
Murdock Lake is one of about 125 dams built in Carroll County in the 1960s by the Natural Resources Conservation Service as a way to capture sediment from erosion and provide flood control downstream. Carroll County has more of these dams than anywhere else in the state, Myers said.
Update on Levee Breach in Carroll County
Delta News TV
One Delta Town is keeping a close eye on a lake after multiple levee breaks.
Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality is monitoring the area surrounding Lake Murdock after a levee breach Friday
MDEQ is responsible for dam safety statewide
WLBT
Officials are still closely monitoring a dam breach in Carroll County It was the result of flash flooding in the area but it’s prompting us to ask more about who inspects dams around the state.
Log jam being removed from river
Picayune Item
Work to remove a log jam south of Pools Bluff has caused the closure of areas of the Bogue Chitto National Wildlife Refuge.
Kuhn finally coming down
Vicksburg Post
Workers and equipment for M&M Services Inc. of Jackson will soon be taking the two buildings on the Kuhn Memorial Hospital property down.
Aggressive, invasive plant called ‘giant salvinia’ found in Barnett Reservoir
WLBT
An aggressive plant called the Giant Salvinia has been found in the Pelahatchie Bay area of the Barnett Reservoir near Jackson.
18-wheeler overturns into creek in Crystal Springs
WJTV
CRYSTAL SPRINGS, Miss. (WJTV) - The Copiah County EOC said an 18-wheeler overturned into a creek in Crystal Springs Tuesday morning.
Explosion rocks downtown Pelahatchie
Explosion happened at Jackson Commodities building
WAPT
PELAHATCHIE, Miss. — An explosion damaged portions of a building Thursday in downtown Pelahatchie.
County settles on Waste Pro fines
Daily Leader
Profits for Waste Pro in Lincoln County are going to end up in the red.
Sewer repairs to close part of busy road
WTOK
The city of Meridian says a portion of State Boulevard will be closed for a couple of days this week.
Watch as nine endangered sea turtles return to the wild
WLOX
Nine endangered Kemps Ridley turtles got a new lease on life Monday, thanks to the Institute for Marine Mammal Studies.
Mississippi anglers get 1 more weekend to catch red snapper
AP
THREE MONROE COUNTY MEN CAPTURE ENORMOUS ALLIGATOR
WCBI
HAMILTON, Miss. (WCBI) – Imagine hitting the river, and landing a gator that’s over 12 feet long and weighs over 600 pounds.
Pascagoula mayor taking a team to DC to chat with leaders
WLOX
Pascagoula Mayor Dane Maxwell is taking a team to Washing, DC to chat with leaders about some hot topics in his city.
State Government
Mississippi: Ohio firm must pay $235,000 in failed expansion
AP
Mississippi's state auditor is demanding that an Ohio business pay nearly $235,000 over a failed business expansion.
Oil Spill
Hancock Whitney to Host Inaugural ‘Splash Bash’ benefiting Mississippi Aquarium Sept. 21
Sea Coast Echo
The Mississippi Aquarium -- now under construction in Gulfport -- won't officially open until late 2019 or early 2020, but the aquarium board and Hancock Whitney Bank have partnered to generate a little excitement for the facility this month.
Regional
Hurricane Florence's path: Track the storm here
Fox News
Hurricane Risks Include Toxic Sludge and Lagoons of Pig Manure
Bloomberg
Hurricane Florence’s potential for destruction also includes increased risks for the environment and public health as torrential rains could overwhelm the pits where toxic waste from power plants is stored. Animal-manure lagoons are also at risk of flooding.
Mid-South feels impacts of Chinese recycling laws
WMC
COLLIERVILLE, TN (WMC) - Local recycling programs are starting to feel the impact of China’s new waste import restriction policy.
’Shame on you... you know better’: Residents speak out against trash facility moving into their community
WMC
WHITEHAVEN, TN (WMC) - Whitehaven is experiencing some trash troubles.
A Canadian-owned waste company wants to expand its operations and upset neighbors are saying "not in our backyard."
Health Department Gives More Time for North Birmingham Residents to Weigh in on Air Quality
WBHM
The Jefferson County Department of Health has extended the deadline for comments on the proposed renewal of the air emissions permit for ABC Coke. The move comes at the request of residents and environmental groups.
National
EPA to Roll Back Obama-Era Methane Rules
Proposal is the latest Trump administration effort to ease measures addressing climate change
WSJ
The Trump administration is about to propose its latest rollback of Obama-era climate rules, moving to ease requirements for oil and gas companies that were designed to limit leaks of the heat-trapping gas methane, administration officials said.
EPA to plan one hearing on coal rule
The Hill
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) said it will hold one hearing on its proposal meant to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from coal-fired power plants.
California Law Mandates Carbon-Free Electricity by 2045
WSJ
California Gov. Jerry Brown Monday signed a controversial and aggressive new law for the state to mandate carbon-free electricity by 2045.
Press releases
EPA Announces Public Hearing on Affordable Clean Energy Proposal
Listening Session to Be Held in Chicago, Ill.
09/10/2018
WASHINGTON (September 10, 2018) — On October 1, 2018, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will hold a public hearing on the proposed Affordable Clean Energy proposal in Chicago, Ill.
EPA Announces Regional Haze Reform Roadmap to Continue Improving Visibility and Reduce Regulatory Burdens
Agency to Replace Four FIPs with SIPs in Missouri, South Carolina, Tennessee, West Virginia
09/10/2018
WASHINGTON (September 10, 2018) — Today, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Acting Administrator Andrew Wheeler issued a Regional Haze Reform Roadmap (Roadmap) to enable efficient, timely, and effective implementation of the Regional Haze program today and in the future.
