The primary motivation of the DEC project is to control the erosion of fertile and productive farmlands.  However, its advantages extend far beyond this. Below, some of the more prominent benefits of the DEC project are described briefly.

Erosion Protection of Farmlands: The structures and methods evaluated by DEC allow for efficient and effective implementation of protection strategies.

Quick Implementation of Control Schemes: The Soil Conservation Service includes erosion control as a basic part of its watershed protection program. The DEC project allows the implementation of concepts on an accelerated schedule and in conjunction with other erosion and flood control measures. This comprehensive approach provides a more definitive evaluation of control measures, which can then be applied to other regions of the United States.

Economic Savings Through Flood Reduction: Economic benefits have already been achieved as demonstrated after the July 1988 flood in Tate and Panola counties. In watersheds where no DEC measures had been conducted, over $422,000 in damages to culverts, bridges and crops or croplands was incurred, as compared to only $30,000 in similar damages within an adjacent watershed where DEC measures had been implemented.

Fish and Wildlife Habitat Protection: A major benefit of the DEC project is the protection and restoration of fish and wildlife resources. Bank and streambed instability degrade a stream's water quality and reduce the amount of available aquatic and terrestrial habitats. Increased flood frequency and duration causes stress and the eventual demise of bottomland hardwoods. The DEC project components each have direct and/or indirect benefits to the fish and wildlife communities. For example, a riser pipe or debris basin will create a small shallow wetland that provides valuable feeding and nesting habitat for a variety of wading birds and will reduce the sediment load downstream, thereby improving the streams water quality. Channel stabilization and restoration work within the Hickahala-Senatobia Creeks watershed will indirectly benefit an extensive bottomland hardwood community near Arklabutta Lake by reducing flood frequencies and sedimentation that has severely stressed this community.