Jackson Public Schools is working with the City of Jackson and other entities to determine new uses for Lake Hico now that its lease with Entergy has terminated. Since Lake Hico was used by Entergy as a cooling pond for its power plant facility, it has been operating under a waste water permit. This permit standard indicates the lake is potentially unsafe for recreational uses in its current condition. The lease with Entergy stipulated that it must restore the lake to its original use. Before it was a power plant cooling pond, the 600-acre plot that included the lake was a recreational venue used by the area's residents at the time.

To remediate the lake, Entergy must drain the lake and breach the levee. It will work with the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) on ongoing testing for a period of 12 to 18 months. The company is also in the process of dismantling the power plant facility, known as the Rex Brown Steam Engine Plant, located adjacent to the lake on property owned by Entergy. Additionally, for the safety of residents, Entergy continues to assume expenses for securing the area—maintaining fencing, monitoring and providing security personnel.

In the interest of fairness, the school district will not require lease payments during the yearlong remediation process. While this represents a significant loss of revenue for possibly more than a year, there are other 16th section properties still generating funds for the District. However, an important goal of the remediation work is to make the area viable for safe revenue-generating uses that will be benefit both the school district and the City of Jackson.

16th section land is state-owned property that generates revenue for the benefit of local school districts to offset the need to raise local taxes," said Joseph Albright, Chief of Operations for Jackson Public Schools. "From that perspective, our interest is to ensure that it continues to generate revenue, but at the same time we want this to be of value to the community that it sits in and to Jackson as a whole. Therefore, it is absolutely essential that we don't do this in isolation."

Jackson Public Schools is working with the City of Jackson and the Jackson Redevelopment Authority to identify potential future uses of the property according to Albright. These groups have been reviewing previous development assessments to determine what opportunities exist in the area. Their plans are to follow up with representatives from the nearby community and throughout the city to weigh in on redevelopment of the area. With over 600 acres, there are a number of redevelopment opportunities at Lake Hico, from sports facilities to recreational boating and fishing, as long as the revitalized lake meets MDEQ permit requirements. Other possibilities include business use, retail, and housing through which the City can generate tax revenue.

Throughout this process, Jackson Public Schools has sought to inform and involve the community. As the process moves forward, neighborhood associations in the Lake Hico area as well as residents throughout the city will have an opportunity to voice their opinions. The District recognizes that the repurposed space will potentially benefit the city as a whole as well as the greater metropolitan area.

Once a plan has been agreed upon with the input of all stakeholders, JPS Facilities and Operations staff will make a presentation to the School Board and seek a partnership with the City of Jackson.

More Coverage:

• Entergy to Drain Lake Hico After Closing Power Plant, JPS Moving Forward With Development Plans, Mississippi Today, November 27, 2020

Photo Credit: Mississippi Today