Overview
Ross Barnett Reservoir is a roughly 33,000-acre impoundment of the Pearl River northeast of Jackson, Mississippi, completed in the mid-1960s as the capital region's primary drinking-water supply. It is owned and operated by the Pearl River Valley Water Supply District and is not a federal flood-control project. The earthen dam and gated spillway stretch about 3.5 miles across the Pearl River valley south of the main lake.
About 105 miles of shoreline frame a shallow lake averaging near 11-12 feet deep, with maximum depths around 60 feet near the dam and a long riverine upper end above Highway 43. Aquatic vegetation, flats, and old river channels create abundant warmwater habitat along the Natchez Trace corridor. Above Highway 43 the reservoir becomes more riverine, with sloughs, sandbars, and vegetated backwaters.
The reservoir is central Mississippi's premier local fishery for bass, crappie, bream, and catfish, managed by the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks. District parks, campgrounds, marinas, and boat launches ring the lake for boating and day use. District parks, trails, and launches make the lake a primary weekend destination for the Jackson metro area.
Water levels are held near a summer target of about 297.5 feet above mean sea level, with a slightly lower winter operating band (commonly near 296 feet in recent District practice). Even small elevation changes matter on this shallow supply reservoir, so monitoring current lake levels is useful for fishing, docking, and flood-sensitive shoreline areas. The District operating permit emphasizes water supply and recreation rather than federal flood-control storage.
Current Conditions
Ross Barnett Reservoir is currently 0.9 feet below full pool and has fallen slightly over the past week.
- 7-day trendFallingLatest movement can differ from the seven-day trend.
- 7-day changeDown 0.39 ft
- 30-day changeDown 0.41 ft
- Drought conditionsNo Drought
- Active advisories2 active (Notice)
About This Lake
Learn how this lake is managed, what affects its water level, and where Lake Insights gets its data.
Ross Barnett Reservoir is a 33,000-acre reservoir on the Pearl River managed by Pearl River Valley Water Supply District.