Mississippi State, county partners to use $50,000 NFWF grant to restore Bernard Bayou headwaters

Patrick Chubb, a Mississippi State University contact and a Harrison County Soil and Water Conservation District commissioner, told the board that Mississippi State received a $50,000 grant from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation to restore habitat at the upper headwaters of Bernard Bayou.

Chubb described the project as a habitat-restoration effort on county property in the upper headwaters that will include an educational component: “We’re gonna work with West Harrison County High School. We’re gonna work with Lyman Elementary,” he said, adding that the work will involve heavy equipment and that matching grants and partners — including the Harrison County Soil and Water Conservation District and Mississippi Power — will be involved. Chubb said the grant should be completed by 2026.

Board members pressed for logistics and legal protections. County staff agreed to prepare the necessary documentation and a memorandum of understanding before any on-site work begins. Chubb asked whether indemnity or other authorization was needed for work on county property; staff said they would “get whatever documentation that we needed on both parties,” and would keep Chubb advised.

The board moved and voted to proceed with the coordination and documentation necessary for the project.

The project’s immediate next steps are development of an MOU and any insurance or indemnity paperwork the county requires; Chubb said he would coordinate with county contacts and school officials about outreach and schedules. If executed, the project will bring hands-on restoration work and student education to a site the presenters described as the true headwaters of Bernard Bayou.