Protecting Hancock County
The Mississippi Bluewater Project
Flood Protection6.5 miles of coastal infrastructure shielding Hancock County from hurricane storm surges and sea-level rise.
Aquaculture & MarineClosed aquaculture system producing 7M oysters/year while restoring breeding grounds in Jackson Marsh.
Blue Water TourismCreating the premier blue-water beach destination between Galveston, TX and Gulf Shores, AL.
The Cost of Inaction: FEMA Risk Rating 2.0
+$2.5M / yearTotal additional annual flood insurance burden facing Hancock County homeowners as discounts expire.
+$1,000+ / yearAverage expected annual flood insurance rate hike per property across 2,500 Waveland homes.
| Location Property | Current Rate | Projected Rate | Total Increase |
|---|---|---|---|
| Waveland Ave | $512 / yr | $1,400 / yr | +173% (over 6 yrs) |
| Idlewood Sub | $880 / yr | $5,539 / yr | +529% (over 11 yrs) |
| 1,482 sq ft Home | - | $2,480 / yr | $200 / month |
A 1,700-Acre Coastal TransformationReimagining 7 miles of Hancock County coastline into a multi-purpose barrier that shields homes while creating a premier Gulf Coast destination.Storm & Surge Defense: A 10–15 ft barrier causeway stretching 6.5 miles to protect homes from hurricane storm surges and projected sea-level rise.Blue-Water Lagoons: 5 to 6 enclosed, clear-water lagoons designed for swimming, snorkeling, surfing, and beach tourism.Aquaculture & Habitat: A closed marine system producing 7 million oysters annually while restoring delicate breeding grounds in Jackson Marsh.
Proven Model: Dunedin Causeway, FLHigh-Return Investment: Built for ~$17M (2022 adjusted), this 2.5-mile causeway created the entrance to Honeymoon Island, attracting ~1,000,000 tourists annually.Shared Maintenance: Ongoing upkeep is split across State, County, and City budgets rather than burdening a single municipality.Proven Concept: Man-made lagoon technology is already approved regionally in nearby D'Iberville, MS.
Regional Impact & Federal FundingThe Challenge: A RAND Corporation study on Louisiana’s Lake Pontchartrain barrier found it directly increases flood risks for Hancock County, MS.The Recommendation: RAND explicitly advised funding cross-state mitigation assistance for affected Mississippi homeowners and businesses.The Strategy: Aligning the Bluewater project with the Louisiana Master Plan positions Hancock County to capture federal mitigation appropriations (such as recent $3.75M St. Tammany parish coastal funding).
Targeted Funding PathwaysState & Regional: MS Tidelands Trust Fund, GOMESA, BP Restoration Damages, Governor’s Oyster Council.Federal: US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE Hazard Mitigation), USDA Development Grants, Opportunity Zone Tax Incentives.Local & Revenue: Commercial Leases (Food & Entertainment), Property/Sales Tax Offset, Oyster League Partnerships.
Project Leadership & EngineeringMark Henderson: Founder & Originator (Lazy Magnolia)Keldrick Smoot: Construction Lead (Smoot Consulting)Troy Henry: Project Strategy (Henry Consulting)Tim Parkman: Commercial Risk (TPI, Inc)Danny Blanks: Coastal Partner (Pontchartrain Partners)
Technical & Environmental AdvisoryChris Medlin: Commercial Building (ATI)Avinash Mehta: Engineering (Pivotal Engineering)Allison H. Anderson: Master Planning (Unabridged Architecture)Micah Tinkler: Coastal Data & Real Estate (Former Naval Oceanographic Office)