Alta spearheaded the development of a $16.1 million FY 2023 PROTECT grant application, collaborating closely with the City of West Memphis, Ducks Unlimited, and the Big River Conservancy. This ambitious project is set to enhance flood protection and boost resilience for critical infrastructure and communities on both sides of the Mississippi River.
By safeguarding five major surface transportation facilities converging in the Mississippi River floodplain—including the vital I-40 and I-55 corridors—this project will maintain crucial links between West Memphis, Arkansas, and Memphis, Tennessee. Any flooding of these routes could result in severe disruptions to the transportation network across the entire southern United States.
Beyond protecting key transportation arteries, the project will deliver additional benefits such as improved ecosystem health, reduced stress on existing flood control structures, and prevention of concentrated erosion and scour that could otherwise lead to catastrophic failures of the I-40, I-55, and railroad bridges.
As part of this effort, Alta conducted a comprehensive benefit-cost analysis, assessing the value of ecosystem services and the potential cost savings from avoiding travel disruptions.