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Natchez Trace Parkway - Catfish and Hushpuppies Overlooking Ross Barnette Reservoir in Ridgeland - NARA - 7720542.jpg
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Lakes → Mississippi → Ross Barnett Reservoir

Ross Barnett Reservoir

Mississippi · Reservoir impounded 1963 · near Ridgeland

33,000 acres 40 ft deep 4 ft clarity Water D
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5.8SCORE
Survey summary · Mississippi
33,000
Surface acres
40 ft
Max depth
105 mi
Shoreline
4 ft
Typical clarity
297 ft
Elevation
Natchez Trace Parkway - Catfish and Hushpuppies Overlooking Ross Barnette Reservoir in Ridgeland - NARA - 7720542.jpg Ross Barnett Reservoir sunset picture.jpg

Photographs of Ross Barnett Reservoir via Wikimedia Commons. Credit and licence on each image — hover to view, click through to the source.

Ross Barnett Reservoir covers 33,000 acres in Mississippi and drops to 40 feet at its deepest point. It is a reservoir impounded in 1963 and managed by Pearl River Valley WSD. Level is unusually stable, which protects dock usability and shoreline appearance year round. Clarity is limited, which is typical of productive fisheries but worth seeing in person if you are swimming daily. Short-term rental posture: District leasehold rules. Confirm at the municipal level before underwriting rental income.

What stands out

  • Very stable water level year-round
  • Fishing
  • Boating

Watch outs

  • Nutrient-rich water; seasonal algae blooms are possible
  • Short-term rental rules are restrictive — do not assume rental income

Score breakdown

WATER RECREATION VALUE ACCESS INVESTMENT
Water 4.0
Recreation 6.3
Value 7.0
Access 7.3
Investment 5.5

Each axis is computed by published formula from this lake's own attributes. How we score.

Water quality grade
Water A
ExcellentClear, low-nutrient water. Typically oligotrophic with high clarity and little seasonal algae.
Water B
GoodHealthy water with moderate clarity. Some seasonal variation, no persistent problems.
Water C
FairProductive water — good fishing, reduced clarity. Algae possible in late summer.
Water D
PoorNutrient-rich or heavily drawn down. Swimmable conditions vary; check before you rely on them.

Computed from measured clarity, trophic state, and drawdown magnitude — not an opinion. See the formula.

Overall score, 1–10
8.0+
ExceptionalStrong on every axis we measure.
7.0–7.9
StrongClearly above average, usually with one standout axis.
6.0–6.9
SolidA good lake with a trade-off worth understanding.
5.0–5.9
MixedReal strengths and real compromises.
Under 5
CompromisedSomething material — volatility, water quality, or access.

Weighted: water 26% · recreation 22% · investment 20% · value 18% · access 14%.

Fishery

Largemouth bassCrappieCatfishBream

On the water

FishingBoatingSailing
No USGS gauge on this lake. We only publish a station when its own name matches this water body. Nearby gauges on other lakes would look like data and mislead you, so we show nothing instead. Why we do that.
3.28 ft
Gage height
2026-08-04

Gauge history

Daily values from USGS. Loading up to one year.

Where it is

Location

No NHD boundary matched this water body, so the marker shows the mapped centre point.

Depth profile

SURFACE 40 ft max avg 13 ft

Idealized cross-section. Max depth 40 ft, average 13 ft. Depth at a specific dock depends on local bathymetry — verify at the property.

Level behaviour

Level stabilityStable Typical drawdown3 ft Drawdown seasonWinter Trophic stateEutrophic Typical clarity4 ft Water quality gradeD Elevation297 ft Managing authorityPearl River Valley WSD

Dock & shoreline

Permitting authorityPearl River Valley WSD Wake / speed rulesNo-wake in coves
A dock is never guaranteed. Confirm in writing with Pearl River Valley WSD that the specific parcel is eligible before you remove contingencies.

Short-term rental posture

District leasehold rules

Restrictions apply and vary by jurisdiction. Verify at the municipal level before you offer.
Model rental income →
Modeled estimates. Market figures are derived from lake attributes and regional patterns, not from MLS data. Treat them as a starting point, not a comp.
$560,000
Median waterfront
$904
Per shoreline foot
-0.4%
Year over year
65
Est. inventory
156
Avg days on market
$447
Est. nightly rate

Rental snapshot

Modeled occupancy41% Booked nights / yr108 Gross revenue$54,393 Net operating income$25,818 Yield on median price4.61%
Open the full model →

What a median-priced home on Ross Barnett Reservoir actually costs to carry, with waterfront-specific line items most calculators omit.

$4,712
All-in per month
$128,690
Cash to close + setup
$12,900
Beyond P&I, tax, insurance
Where the annual cost goes
$56,538 PER YEAR
Principal & interest $35,406 (64%) Maintenance reserve (1.1%) $6,160 (11%) Property taxes $5,880 (11%) Utilities $2,700 (5%) Hazard insurance $2,352 (4%) Shoreline / seawall reserve $960 (2%) Dock maintenance $900 (2%) Winterization / seasonal close $750 (1%)

Annual carry

Principal & interest$35,406
Property taxes$5,880
Hazard insurance$2,352
Flood insurance$650
Utilities$2,700
Maintenance reserve (1.1%)$6,160
Septic service$520
Well & water testing$260
Dock maintenance$900
Winterization / seasonal close$750
Shoreline / seawall reserve$960
Total$56,538
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