Pat Harrison Waterway District facts for kids
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| Formation | 1962 |
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| Type | State Agency |
| Purpose | Flood control, Recreation |
| Headquarters | 17 J M Tatum Industrial Drive, Suite 120 Hattiesburg, Mississippi |
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Region served
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Southeastern and East Central Mississippi |
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Executive Director
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Hiram Boone |
| Website | Pat Harrison Waterway District |
The Pat Harrison Waterway District (PHWD) is a special organization in Mississippi. It's like a state-level team that helps manage water. Their main office is in Hattiesburg. This group was started in 1962. Their first big job was to help control floods in the southeastern and east central parts of Mississippi.
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What the Pat Harrison Waterway District Does
When the Pat Harrison Waterway District began in 1962, its main goal was to stop floods. They worked on rivers and smaller streams in the Pascagoula River area of Mississippi. Over time, their job grew. Now, they also manage water resources and create fun places for people to visit.
The District is named after Pat Harrison. He was a very important person from Mississippi. He served in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1911 to 1919. Then, he was a Senator from 1919 to 1941.
How the District Gets Money
The Pat Harrison Waterway District gets its money from a few places. They receive funds from a type of tax called ad valorem tax. This tax is collected in the counties that are part of the District. They also earn money from fees paid at their parks and from selling timber (wood from trees). Sometimes, they also get money from investments.
The District is guided by a Board of Directors. This board has 18 members. Each of the 15 member counties chooses one director. The Governor of Mississippi also chooses three directors. The District has full-time employees. They work at the main office in Hattiesburg and at the eight water parks.
Counties That Are Members
When the Pat Harrison Waterway District first started, 15 counties in Mississippi were members:
By 2014, three of these counties decided to leave the District. These were Forrest, Jasper, and Lamar counties.
Rivers and Creeks They Manage
The Pat Harrison Waterway District helps manage many rivers and creeks in the Pascagoula River Basin. These water sources include:
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Fun Water Parks to Visit
The District also takes care of eight water parks. These parks have many things for the public to enjoy. You can find places to camp, launch boats, rent cabins, and have picnics. There are also swimming areas and places for meetings.
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Little Black Creek Water Park (Lumberton, MS) used to be managed by the District. But in 2013, it was leased to a private company.
Images for kids
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Former Pat Harrison Waterway District Headquarters in 2012
