Draft - Final 15 Day Notice "Final Notice and Public Explanation of a Proposed Activity in the 100-Year Floodplain" To: All Interested Agencies, Groups, and Individuals SUBJECT: Notice of Intent to take action within the 100-year floodplain This document gives notice that the Jackson County Board of Supervisors (JCBOS) is proposing to conduct activities within the 100-year floodplain, as identified on Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMS) for Jackson County, to facilitate the Jackson County Pascagoula River Blueway Project. The Project will establish a marked and mapped paddling trail and access points along the Pascagoula River through Jackson County. The project will take place at 14 sites along the Pascagoula River in Jackson County and 1 site in George County. The sites include Gibson Landing, Overstreet Landing, North Deep Slough, South Deep Slough, Parker Creek, Caswell Island, Roy Cumbest Bridge Boat Ramp, Cumbest Bluff Boat Ramp, Poticaw Landing, John's Bayou Marina, Hickory Hills Country Club, Four Mile Creek Boat Ramp, I-10 Boat Ramp, I-10 Rest Stop, and Shepard State Park. The JCBOS is requesting the use of U.S. Department of the Treasury Resources and Ecosystems Sustainability, Tourist Opportunities, and Revived Economies (RESTORE) Act funding for the referenced project. In deciding whether to fund the proposed project, the U.S. Department of the Treasury is obligated to follow requirements set forth by Section 2(a)(4) of Executive Order 11988 for Floodplain Management. This Notice of Intent is being provided in fulfillment of the aforementioned Executive Order. The JCBOS has conducted an evaluation as required by Executive Order 11988 to determine the potential effect that its activity in the floodplain will have on the environment. The Blueway Project site is comprised of 15 sites all of which are located within the 100-year floodplain (Zone AE), as shown on Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) Map Numbers 28039C0200E, 28059C0075G,28059C0182G, 28059C0205G, 28059C0202G, 28059C0204G, 28059C0215G, 28059C0330G, 28059C0333G, and 28059C0338G. Activities in these areas would have no negative impacts on the floodplain. In response to the requirement for evaluating alternatives to building/mitigating projects in the floodplain, the alternatives considered included relocating the proposed activity to an alternate site and no action. Alternate Site Alternative Alternate site locations are not possible because the objective of the project is to provide safe and accessible points of entry into the Pascagoula River, no sites located outside the flood zone can provide adequate river access. No Action Alternative The adoption of No Action would not provide improvement to the current access or safety for paddling recreation on the Pascagoula River. The No Action Alternative does not meet the project's purpose and need, which is to enable safer and more accessible river entry points and navigation. Proposed Action Alternative The objective of the project is to provide safer and more accessible paddling recreation on the Pascagoula River. The project will establish 15 mapped points of entry and/or rest areas along the river as well as establishing wayfinding and mile mark signs along the waterway. The project will also provide wayfinding signage on adjacent roadways to guide patrons to the Blueway points of interest. Members of the public are invited to submit comments on the proposed activity. Additional information on the proposed activity is available for the public between the hours of 8:30 am and 4:30 pm, Monday through Thursday at the following location: Allen Engineering and Science, Inc. 301 West Pine St. Hattiesburg, MS 39401 wpentecost@allenes.com Jackson County Board of Supervisors County Administrator's Office 2915 Canty St, Suite H Pascagoula, MS 39567 Any individual, group, or agency may submit written comments for consideration by the JCBOS at the above address by June 1, 2026. All comments will be considered prior to constructing the proposed activity. IPL0339855 May 17 2026