Mississippi Roads travels to central Mississippi. We visit Madison and Rankin counties at the Ross Barnett Reservoir. http://www.rossbarnettreservoir.org/camping/
The Ross Barnett Reservoir had it’s origins from a water shortage experienced in the city of Jackson in the 1950's. It became obvious that the Pearl River, in its natural state, would not adequately be a source of water supply for a growing metropolitan area. It was created in the 1960's by impounding the Pearl River between Madison and Rankin Counties and was named after the 52nd governor of the State of Mississippi.
The Pearl River Valley Water Supply District is the state agency created to construct and manage the 33,000-acre Ross Barnett Reservoir. The District carries out its multi-purpose mission without any state or local tax dollars.
A Board of Directors approves plans and projects for the District. The board members represent four state agencies and the five counties of Madison, Hinds, Rankin, Leake, and Scott in central Mississippi.
The District covers many homes, businesses, parks, marinas and boat launches. But the newest addition to the reservoir area is not on Pearl River Water Valley District land but it just happens to be across the street from the main office in Ridgleland.
It’s the brand new home for the Craftsmen’s Guild of Mississippi.
http://www.mscraftsmensguild.org/
The Craftsmen’s Guild of Mississippi has served as a statewide organization since 1973. Their mission is to support and preserve the works of Mississippi crafts artist while also serving to teach and inspire future Mississippi craft artist. The story of how and why it was created is an interesting one. What began with 30 members has grown to over 400 today.
Interestingly enough, throughout its history, the Craftsmen’s Guild has never had a place to call home, until now. Their newly opened Ridgeland facility will serve as the place to create, teach, and display works of art from all over the state.
There are tons of things to do here at the reservoir. From boating to skiing to fishing to bird watching to camping or dining in the great restaurants that surround this beautiful body of water.
Visitors can relax at five different campgrounds; two of them Timberlake and Goshen Springs, now offer RV rental units.
The District also offers 16 parks, 22 boat launches, three handicapped-accessible trails, and two multi-purpose trails. There are also five marinas, four baseball/soccer complexes, two golf courses and a water park.
Numerous events also take place on or around the reservoir like fishing tournaments and the annual Pepsi Pops concert is held at Old Trace Park each summer. In our next story, we cruise over to the other side of the reservoir to Rankin County for an annual event known as Fire Fest.
http://www.reservoirfire.com/;
http://www.firefighterchallenge.com/;
http://www.pennsrestaurant.com/
It began as a simple abilities test designed to determine whether a job applicant had the requisite capabilities to perform the essential job functions of a firefighter. It became the Scott Firefighter’s Combat Challenge: a competition that encourages firefighter fitness and demonstrates the profession's rigors to the public. In Brandon, Mississippi, it attracts competitors and fans from all over the country to what many consider the “best stop on the tour”, the Reservoir Fire Fest.
The spillway dam at the reservoir; is sixty-four feet high and runs three miles in length. There are ten spillway gates that control the water flow out of the reservoir into the Pearl River and would believe that approximately 2 billion 409 million 264 thousand gallons of water flow out of the reservoir each day.
But there is more that flows out of the spillway gates than just water. This is a popular place for fishermen to gather to try and hook some of the big bass, catfish and crappie that get swept out of the big water and through the spillway gates.
If this looks like something you might enjoy, I’m sure you’ll enjoy our next segment about the natural beauty surrounding this man-made lake.
A late summer storm, the old timers used to call them September Gales, gives the normally placid reservoir a sinister and evil aura but after it blows over, the boats return along with the normal progression of things.
After the first frost of fall, the green leaves of summer on the upper lake take on the earth tones of the end of the growing season.
But the reservoir does offer a little dash of nature just a few miles from the city, even if it wouldn’t be here, naturally. But to be able to zip out and grab a quick view of something pretty backed up by rippled water is like being able to take a quick gulp of oxygen in an otherwise smog-filled atmosphere
There are many marinas and numerous boat ramps that allow easy access to the water at the Ross Barnett Reservoir.
Whether you enjoy fishing, sailing, skiing, or just going for a lazy afternoon cruise on a boat; the reservoir is the perfect spot to get our and enjoy nature on the water.
|
