Big River Coalition : A unified voice for the Mississippi River

The Big River Coalition (BRC) was established in 2011 in response to a significant shift in federal funding policy. That year, the Commander of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Mississippi Valley Division announced that maintenance of the Mississippi River Ship Channel (Gulf to Baton Rouge, Louisiana) would be limited to the Operations and Maintenance (O&M) budget. Until then, the Ship Channel had often received additional resources from other Corps projects due to its national importance.

Following the 1989 grounding of the M/V Marshal Konyev near Pilottown, which effectively closed the channel, USACE Headquarters had pledged to prioritize maintenance of this vital waterway. However, the new funding approach threatened that commitment.

In response, the BRC was formed to advocate for additional funding, to protect the Harbour Maintenance Trust Fund through legislative efforts, and to represent the Mississippi River navigation industry on coastal restoration issues. As the Coalition grew and gained traction, its mission expanded to include support for deepening the Ship Channel to 50 feet, ensuring it remains a vital economic superhighway.