Rising water leads to Barnett Reservoir discharge

The discharge at the Ross Barnett Reservoir dam was increased in an attempt to slow rising water after Sunday night’s heavy rain, Pearl River Valley Water Supply District officials announced Tuesday.

The decision to increase the discharge to 40,000 cubic feet per second came during a 9 a.m. conference call with the National Weather Service Jackson, the Lower Mississippi River Forecast Center in Slidell. La., the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in Vicksburg, the U.S. Geological Survey, and the City of Jackson.

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“At 9 a.m., the lake level was 298.49, which is the highest in recent history,” said John Sigman, PRVWSD general manger. “We are holding as much water as we’ve held in at least 10 years, and we must release it, but we can do that without endangering the City of Jackson and other downstream communities.”

During the conference call, the National Weather Service increased its forecasted crest of 34 feet at Jackson at 6 a.m. Wednesday, a foot higher than Monday’s prediction. At 34 feet, some minor street flooding will occur in Jackson but water will not threaten homes or businesses.

“That is a similar level to what happened during the high water event in March of 2016, so residents can expect the same impact,” Sigman said. “If you live in a low area along the river, you need to be aware of your surroundings.”

The peak inflow is now forecast at 40,000 cubic feet per second at noon on Wednesday.

Spillway Road across the dam remains open in both directions, but the access road to the fishing area below the dam on the Madison County side is closed until further notice.

The public can track river forecasts online:

Click here for the Ross Barnett Reservoir

Click here for the City of Jackso

Click here for the U. S. Geological Survey real-time looks at river gauges

Click here for the USGS’s Jackson gauge