The MV Mississippi was docked at the Vicksburg City Front, Wednesday, to hold one of four meetings scheduled along the Mississippi River during its annual high-water inspection trip on the Mississippi River.

Maj. Gen. Michael C. Wehr, commander of the Mississippi Valley Division in Vicksburg and president of the Mississippi River Commission ,opened the public meeting and emphasized the importance of the Mississippi waterways.

“With the ability to move commerce we can feed the world,” Wehr said.

Reired Brig. Gen. Robert Crear, of Vicksburg was one of 11 people, who took the floor presenting their views and request from the commission.

Crear, who is now chairman of RYE Development LLC, a hydropower developer based in Gloucester, Maine explained that public and private partnerships are ready to move forward with hydropower, and he advocated for expedient licensing from FERC, the Federal Energy regulatory Commission, for energy contained in flowing water.

“Hydropower is the lowest costing renewable energy,” Crear said.

River Commission members are appointed by President Barack Obama and along with Wehr, representing the commission were Rear Adm. Gerd F. Glang, of Silver Springs, Md., who has been named as the next director of NOAA’s Office of Coast Survey, Norma Jean Matteo, Ph.D. of Metairie, La. and Brig. Gen. John S. Kem of Portland, Ore., who is commander of the Northwestern Division, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

The inspections provide the commission the opportunity to review the conditions of the Mississippi River and see, firsthand, projects under construction or completed on or near the river. The public meetings provided an opportunity for anyone with an interest on matters affecting the water resources infrastructure needs in the Mississippi River Valley, including flood control and the Mississippi River and Tributaries project, environmental issues, recreation and navigation to present their views and suggestions.

Public meetings were also held in New Madrid, Mo., Memphis and the final meeting is scheduled for Baton Rouge on Friday.

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