Bonnet Carre Spillway Opening Threatens Gulf Seafood Industry

The Bonnet Carre Spillway Opening proposed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in 2025 has alarmed Mississippi leaders. They warn the move could devastate the Gulf Coast’s seafood industry and fragile marine ecosystems.

Michael McGill, a community advocate for South Mississippi, voiced strong opposition. In a letter addressed to Colonel Jones of the Army Corps, McGill urged federal authorities to exhaust all alternatives before considering the Bonnet Carre Spillway Opening.

“The cumulative damage from this practice is no longer acceptable,” McGill wrote. “The needs of one region must not come at the expense of the health and prosperity of another.”

Environmental and Economic Consequences of the Bonnet Carre Spillway Opening

The Bonnet Carre Spillway sits upriver from New Orleans and functions as a flood-control structure. It diverts high Mississippi River flows into Lake Pontchartrain. Consequently, opening it sends a surge of freshwater into the Mississippi Sound — a delicate marine habitat that supports shrimp, oysters, crabs, finfish, and bottlenose dolphins.

McGill highlighted the environmental and economic fallout from previous openings. In 2019, two extended Bonnet Carre Spillway Openings caused widespread disruption. As a result, dolphin strandings increased by 400%, oyster reefs collapsed, and harmful algal blooms forced the closure of every public beach along Mississippi’s Gulf Coast. The local seafood industry lost over $20 million.

“Our commercial seafood industry continues to struggle,” McGill wrote. “Oyster landings have fallen to less than 6% of historical averages.”

Strategic Solutions to Address Bonnet Carre Spillway Opening Risks

To reduce pressure from the Bonnet Carre Spillway Opening, McGill proposed several practical alternatives. He urged the use of the Morganza Spillway to redirect river flows through the Atchafalaya Basin. Another solution he proposed was dredging the Mississippi River in key areas. He also suggested coordinating upstream reservoir releases to manage flood levels more effectively.

“Mississippi stands ready to collaborate on engineering evaluations, restoration plans, and infrastructure solutions,” McGill said. “However, we cannot continue to bear the burden of decisions that disregard the health of our waters, wildlife, and communities.”

Public Reaction and Advocacy Against Bonnet Carre Spillway Opening

McGill has also been actively working with local fishermen and state legislators to build a unified response to the Bonnet Carre Spillway Opening. Through roundtable discussions and direct engagement with policymakers, he ensures that those most affected — especially the seafood workers and their families — are included in shaping advocacy and policy solutions. This grassroots approach has helped bring more attention to the long-term stakes of repeated spillway use.

In addition to his outreach on the ground, McGill has joined forces with Save Our Sound (SOS), a nonprofit group that has taken the lead in confronting this issue head-on. Harrison County Supervisor Marlin Ladner — who represents District 1 and serves as a board member for SOS — has been an outspoken critic of the Army Corps of Engineers’ decisions. Congressman Mike Ezell of Mississippi’s 4th Congressional District has also voiced his strong opposition to the spillway opening, reinforcing the growing bipartisan concern at both state and federal levels.

Bipartisan concern has emerged across the state. Lt. Governor Delbert Hosemann also sent a letter to the Corps, echoing McGill’s concerns and calling for a more balanced flood control strategy.

Meanwhile, McGill mobilized residents through social media. He provided an easy-to-use email template so citizens could contact the Army Corps of Engineers and voice their opposition to the Bonnet Carre Spillway Opening. This approach helped empower residents to take part in the conversation.

A Citizens Letter of Concern

Email: cullen.a.jones@usace.army.mil

Subject: Opposition to Opening the Bonnet Carre Spillway in 2025

Dear Colonel Jones,

I am writing to express my strong opposition to the proposed opening of the Bonnet Carre Spillway in 2025. The diversion of freshwater from the Mississippi River into the Mississippi Sound has caused irreparable harm to our coastal ecosystem, particularly the seafood industry. The negative impact of previous spillway openings has been devastating, with oyster landings dropping to less than 6% of historical averages, and harmful algal blooms causing beach closures along the Gulf Coast.

As a resident of South Mississippi, I am deeply concerned about the long-term consequences of such a decision. Our seafood industry is a vital part of our local economy and way of life, and it cannot continue to bear the brunt of decisions that prioritize flood control at the expense of our waters, wildlife, and coastal communities.

I respectfully urge you and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to explore all possible alternatives to the opening of the Bonnet Carre Spillway, including utilizing other diversion methods and flood control measures. The health of our Gulf Coast ecosystem and the livelihoods of those who depend on it must be a priority.

Conclusion: Defending the Gulf’s Future

McGill emphasized that the fight against the Bonnet Carre Spillway Opening is about more than just one environmental event — it’s about preserving an entire way of life on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. By standing up to federal decisions that overlook regional consequences, he champions the voices of local fishermen, small business owners, and families who depend on the seafood economy.

“This is about fairness, sustainability, and the future of our coast,” McGill said. “Every time the spillway opens, we risk losing the progress we’ve made and jeopardizing generations of livelihoods.”

His advocacy shows that with unified action and informed public engagement, communities can demand smarter, more equitable solutions. The people of South Mississippi deserve flood protection that doesn’t sacrifice their ecosystems or their economy.

For more updates and information, visit StayAmerican.org.