Big Creek Reservoir
Big Creek Reservoir in Jones County, Mississippi has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 3.3 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 70 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 18.5 µg/L. Surface area: 150 acres.
- Clarity
- 3.3 ft
- Area
- 150 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Public access
- Yes
Grade D measures nutrients and algae, not whether this is a good place for a cabin trip. Cabins and rentals near Big Creek Reservoir →
Big Creek Reservoir is a 150-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Jones County, Mississippi. Water quality is graded D based on 2 sampling years through 2025. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 1 other monitored lakes in Jones County, Big Creek Reservoir ranks #1 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, your state environmental agency, last sampled 2025-10-27. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Watch Big Creek Reservoir water quality
Subscribe for LakeQuality updates by email. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
Swimming Safety
Grade onlyLimited data
Based on clarity and algae grades from past sampling — we do not hold live water temperature and a current cyanobacteria reading for this lake. Check your state or county health department before you swim.
Nutrients and algae run higher than average — check local advisories before swimming, and skip the water if you see scum
Water Quality Grade: D (Nutrient-rich)
Very murky, less than 3.3 ft of visibility. Phosphorus level: 70 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 18.5 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 62.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 3.3 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 70 µg/L | Poor |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 18.5 µg/L | Fair |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 62 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Big Creek Reservoir
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Big Creek Reservoir in Jones County, Mississippi — live availability and prices for your trip. Switch the map to Satellite to see the lake and how close each stay is to the water. The water-quality grade measures nutrients and algae, not lodging — cabins and rentals around Big Creek Reservoir are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Big Creek Reservoir
Availability and prices from Stay22 partners (Booking.com, Vrbo, Expedia). We may earn a commission from bookings, at no extra cost to you.
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 150 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
No bathymetric survey has been published for Big Creek Reservoir, so its depth is not documented here.
Recreation & Access
- Big Creek Water ParkPublic
Named access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, snapped within 5 km. More lakes with boat ramps
Fishing Big Creek Reservoir
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Big Creek Reservoir is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Big Creek Water Park Dam (completed 1976), built primarily for flood risk reduction; earth-type dam, 28 ft tall and 2,110 ft long.
- Surface area
- 150 ac
- Max storage
- 2,643 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 2.48 sq mi
- Hazard class
- High
- Owner
- PAT HARRISON WATERWAY DISTRICT
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID MS03038 · Operator website · Matched by proximity (0.08 km)
County Ranking
Ranked #1 of 2 lakes in Jones County
Nearby Lakes in Jones County
Frequently asked questions about Big Creek Reservoir
Where is Big Creek Reservoir?
- Big Creek Reservoir is a lake in Jones County, Mississippi. LakeQuality grades it D for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Big Creek Reservoir?
- Big Creek Reservoir in Jones County, Mississippi has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 3.3 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 70 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 18.5 µg/L. Surface area: 150 acres.
Is Big Creek Reservoir safe to swim in?
- Nutrients and algae run higher than average — check local advisories before swimming, and skip the water if you see scum. Big Creek Reservoir has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 18.5 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
Are there boat ramps on Big Creek Reservoir?
- Big Creek Reservoir has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Big Creek Water Park. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Big Creek Reservoir across LakeGrade
More Mississippi Lake Rankings
Other Grade D Lakes in Mississippi
Eutrophic Lakes in Mississippi
Where this data comes from
32 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-21.
Collected and reported by
- MISSISSIPPI DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
21MSWQ_WQX32 samples · 2025
Analytical methods
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
- 445.0 ~ EPA; Chlorophyll and Pheophytin in Algae by Fluorescence
Monitoring station identifiers (1)
Grade thresholds from the EPA National Lakes Assessment (EPA 841-R-24-006, Table 6-3), applied by ecoregion. See how grades are calculated and data sources.
Other records on this page
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory