Pat Harrison Waterway District

Pat Harrison Waterway District

Formation	1962
Type	State Agency
Purpose	Flood control, Recreation
Headquarters	6081 U.S. Route 49 south, Hattiesburg, Mississippi
Region served	Southeastern and East Central Mississippi
Executive Director	Hiram Boone[1]
Website	Pat Harrison Waterway District

Pat Harrison Waterway District (PHWD) is a Mississippi State Agency with headquarters in Hattiesburg. The agency was created in 1962 with a directive of flood control in southeastern and east central Mississippi.

History and mission

Pat Harrison Waterway District Headquarters in Hattiesburg, MS

When the Waterway District was created in 1962, its main mission was flood control for rivers and their tributaries along the Pascagoula River Basin in southeastern and east central Mississippi.^[2] In addition to flood control, the agency’s mission expanded to include water management and recreation.^[3] The District derives its name from Pat Harrison, who served Mississippi as U.S. Representative (1911–19) and Senator (1919-41).

Funding

Funding for PHWD comes from ad valorem taxes collected in member Counties, park recreation fees, timber sales, and interest from investments.^[4] PHWD is governed by an 18 member Board of Directors, with one Director appointed from each of the 15 member Counties and three Directors appointed by the Governor of Mississippi.^[5] Full-time employees are located at the central office in Hattiesburg and at the District’s eight water parks.

Member counties

Originally, there were 15 Mississippi counties in the Pat Harrison Waterway District:^[5]

Clarke County Covington County Forrest County George County

Greene County Jackson County Jasper County Jones County

Lamar County Lauderdale County Newton County Perry County

Smith County Stone County Wayne County

As of 2014, three counties (Forrest, Jasper, and Lamar) had withdrawn from the District.^[6]

Water resources

Water resources in the Pascagoula River Basin, over which Pat Harrison Waterway District has jurisdiction, include:^[5]

Big Creek Black Creek Bogue Homa Lake Bossie Creek

Buckatunna Creek Chickasawhay River Chunky River Escatawpa River

Gains Creek Leaf River Little Black Creek Okatoma Creek

Pascagoula River Red Creek Tallahalla Creek Thompson Creek

Water parks

The agency oversees eight water parks with public amenities that include camp sites, boat launches, cabins, picnic areas, swimming areas, and meeting facilities.^[5]

Archusa Creek Water Park (Quitman, MS) Big Creek Water Park (Soso, MS) Dry Creek Water Park (Mount Olive, MS) Dunns Falls Water Park (Enterprise, MS)

Flint Creek Water Park (Wiggins, MS) Maynor Creek Water Park (Waynesboro, MS) Okatibbee Water Park (Meridian, MS) Turkey Creek Water Park (Decatur, MS)

Little Black Creek Water Park (Lumberton, MS) was formerly managed by PHWD, but was leased to a private developer in 2013.^[7]

References

1. Water Resources Association: Pat Harrison Waterway District Retrieved 2014-05-13.
2. Pat Harrison Waterway District celebrates 50th anniversary Retrieved 2012-12-15.
3. Pat Harrison Waterway District Retrieved 2012-12-13.
4. A review of the Pat Harrison Waterway District’s Management of Archusa Creek Water Park Retrieved 2012-12-15
5. PEER report to the Mississippi Legislature Retrieved 2012-12-15.
6. Pat Harrison Waterway District moving headquarter location Retrieved 2014-05-13.
7. Citizen leases Little Black Creek Water Park property Retrieved 2014-05-14.