McComb Enterprise-Journal
Column: Okhissa imagined
By Ernest Herndon
Imagine driving to the north boat ramp at Okhissa Lake and, instead of just a parking lot, bathroom and launch area, you see a large building with a conference center and rustic lodge. Out back on a small peninsula in the lake you find a swimming pool, marina, boardwalk and overlook.
This is all just a concept, but it could very well come true now that President Donald Trump signed the U.S. Farm Bill on Thursday authorizing the Scenic Rivers Development Alliance to purchase 150 acres on the northwest corner of Okhissa.
Scenic Rivers director Joseph Parker said he was excited about "legislation that the president signed with our name on it. That's pretty cool."
U.S. Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith, who inserted the Okhissa provision into the Farm Bill, said in a news release, "Agriculture is the foundation of Mississippi's economy, so getting these policies right for our producers is critical. It was also important to bring a new focus to the needs of rural communities to help them grow economically. I think this bill accomplishes that."
It's been a banner year for the Scenic Rivers alliance, which is made up of five southwest Mississippi counties (Pike, Amite, Walthall, Franklin, Wilkinson). Scenic Rivers started several years ago as a branch of the Pike County Economic Development District, but earlier this year the Legislature made it an independent state agency, giving it broader powers.
The alliance was then able to take over management of Bogue Chitto Water Park, which had closed, and Quail Hollow Golf Course, which was about to. It's also involved in talks to manage or help out at other parks throughout the five-county area.
In December 2017, Parker got a message that then-U.S. Sen. Thad Cochran supported a plan to transfer some Okhissa property to Scenic Rivers. Amenities like hotel, marina and campground had been planned since before the lake was built but never materialized despite U.S. Forest Service efforts to find private investors.
Cochran wound up retiring, with Hyde-Smith appointed interim and later elected to his post. She called Parker earlier this year expressing interest in following up on the Okhissa plan.
The timing couldn't have been better, since by then Scenic Rivers had become a state agency and Parker had had time to find out what would be involved in managing land at Okhissa.
"The Lord has His hand in these type of things, and for me that's important," Parker said. "Who knew that the state was looking into closing Quail Hollow down and Pearl River Basin Development District closing at the same time?"
But he also said he sometimes feel like "the dog that caught the tire," as he faces a daunting task in making the Okhissa dream - not to mention other projects - come true.
Parker met earlier this week with Meadville Mayor Lane Reed, Franklin County Chamber of Commerce President Brad Jones and newly elected District 85 Rep. Jeffery Harness and drove to the lake site. (See related story on Page 10.)
Scenic Rivers has applied for a U.S. Department of Agriculture grant for an updated feasibility study on developing Okhissa. One was done years ago, and Neel-Schaffer engineering firm had done preliminary work on water and sewer services.
One glaring challenge is the condition of the lake itself, which started out as a Bill Dance Signature Lake but has suffered from insufficient fertilizing regimen and invasive vegetation.
Parker said addressing those issues will involve working with the Forest Service, which will continue to own the lake and most of the land around it.
"We've been investigating the cost and process of that (lake maintenance). How do you spend money on a federal piece of property?" he said. "If we're trying to figure out the funding for a lodge and conference center, that would be a small part."
The Farm Bill authorizes Scenic Rivers to buy the property at appraised value - appraised by federal standards. Parker said he will get that done immediately. As for buying the land, he'll be asking for state, federal and private assistance. He's already talked to private donors as well as investors interested in a longterm lease.
"We'll be looking to all sources possible," he said.
As a state agency, Scenic Rivers should be able to offer investors less restrictive terms than the U.S. Forest Service did, Parker said. But in the long run the alliance will have to advertise for bids to build and operate the developments.
In the meantime, Scenic Rivers has 180 days to issue a notice of intent to buy the land. "We don't have to physically purchase the property at that point," Parker said.
According to the Farm Bill, "Subject to the requirements of this section, if the Alliance submits a written request for conveyance by not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act and the Secretary determines that it is in the public interest to convey the National Forest System Land described in subsection (c), the Secretary shall convey to the Alliance all right, title, and interest of the United States in and to the National Forest System land described in subsection (c) by quitclaim deed through a public or private sale, including a competitive sale by auction or bid."
As for particulars of the development itself, much will hinge on the feasibility study, which will show private investors what to shoot for.
One thing not included in plans at this point is a campground. Parker said there's a bigger need for lodging, a fact impressed on him by such divergent interests as the local hospital, phone company and chess club. The Franklin County chess program has gained national attention and could host major tournaments - if there was somewhere for competitors to stay.
The Homochitto National Forest draws hunters during hunting season who might also use Okhissa lodging.
"There's a lot more to build out in the future," Parker said, citing campground and trails.
Family-friendly projects like Bogue Chitto Water Park, Quail Hollow and Okhissa Lake are important to the quality of life in southwest Mississippi, Parker said. Imagine if the water park had stayed closed, if Quail Hollow folded, if Okhissa remains just a lake with no facilities, he said.
Quality of life is important to economic development in general, he pointed out.
Parker is also exploring possibilities at Clark Creek, Lake Mary and Wilkinson County Park in Wilkinson County, Clear Springs Recreation Area in Franklin County, Ethel Vance Natural Area in Amite County, and Lake Walthall and Walker Memorial Water Park in Walthall County. He's been asked to serve on a national board representing the interests of rural areas involved in oilfield activity.
"The growth and the momentum that we've had this year is more than I would have expected," Parker said. But he added, "I want to make sure what we've got is working. I don't want to grow too fast."