Ross Barnett Reservoir lake and shoreline

Ross Barnett Reservoir Water Level

Officially Ross Barnett Reservoir (Pearl River)

Mississippi

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Ross Barnett Reservoir

Ross Barnett Reservoir is currently 1.3 feet below full pool, with a water-surface elevation of 296.7 feet.

296.66 ft · Updated 2 hours ago · U.S. Geological Survey (USGS)

Current level

296.66ft

−1.34 ft vs full pool

Normal

Vs full pool

Since last reading

Down 0.05 ft

Previous readingOct 4296.73 ft

7-day change

Down 0.11 ft

7-day trend: Falling

8 daily readings in the last 7 days

30-day change

Down 0.53 ft

31 daily readings in the last 30 days

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Water Level History

Current
296.66 ft
24h
-0.05 ft
7d
-0.11 ft
30d
-0.53 ft

Elevation (ft) MSL

Reference line is designed full pool.

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Lake Level Context

Level remains below the full pool

Ross Barnett Reservoir is currently 296.66 ft, 1.34 ft below its full pool. The lake has fallen 0.11 ft over the past 7 days and 0.53 ft over the past 30 days.

Ross Barnett Reservoir Level Details

Reference elevations, recent daily readings, data sources, and answers to common questions.

Conditions & Reference

Level status

1.34 ft below full pool

Current level
296.66 ft
Full pool
298 ft
DatumVertical reference for published pool and stage elevations at this lake (from the lake catalog).
Not available
Elevation reference
MSL
Source
U.S. Geological Survey (USGS)

Reference levels

  • Full pool298 ft

Watershed drought

Moderate Drought

54.5% of watershed in official drought (D1+).

Severity

NoneExtreme
Trend
Stable

Watershed drought conditions

Smith County, MS

Moderate Drought

Moderate Drought. Moderate drought is affecting the watershed.. Trend: Stable compared with last week. Official drought yes

Severity

NoneExtreme

Weekly trend

Stable

Compared with last week

Official drought

Yes

54.5% of the watershed is currently classified as official drought (D1+).

Expected impacts

  • Stream inflows may run below normal
  • Lake levels can decline faster between rain events
  • Vegetation stress may increase over time

U.S. Drought Monitor · map date Sep 29, 2026. Updated weekly. droughtmonitor.unl.eduView drought map for Smith County, MS

Daily level summary

DateLevelChange
Oct 5, 2026296.68-0.05
Oct 4, 2026296.73+0.01
Oct 3, 2026296.72-0.02
Oct 2, 2026296.740
Oct 1, 2026296.74+0.01
Sep 30, 2026296.73-0.04
Sep 29, 2026296.77-0.02

Common questions about Ross Barnett Reservoir’s water level

  • The current water level at Ross Barnett Reservoir is 296.66 ft (updated 2 hours ago). You can track the Ross Barnett Reservoir lake level on the interactive chart and daily history above.

  • Full pool for Ross Barnett Reservoir is 298 ft — the normal conservation target elevation when the reservoir is at its designed summer or operating pool.

  • The current 7-day trend for the Ross Barnett Reservoir lake level is falling — falling about 0.11 ft over the past week. See the history chart above for the full picture.

  • Based on the latest gauge reading, Ross Barnett Reservoir is currently 1.34 ft below full pool.

Lake level glossary

Definitions for pool targets, datums, and how elevation readings are labeled.

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