Ross Barnett Reservoir
Ross Barnett Reservoir in Madison County, Mississippi has a water quality grade of F (Algae-prone). Water clarity: 1.7 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 70 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 35.3 µg/L.
- Clarity
- 1.7 ft
- Type
- Hypereutrophic
- Public access
- Yes
Grade F measures nutrients and algae, not whether this is a good place for a cabin trip. Cabins and rentals near Ross Barnett Reservoir →
Ross Barnett Reservoir is a highly nutrient-loaded hypereutrophic lake in Madison County, Mississippi. Water quality is graded F based on 2 sampling years through 2025. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available with 6 public boat landings. Compared to the 1 other monitored lakes in Madison County, Ross Barnett Reservoir ranks #2 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, your state environmental agency, last sampled 2025-10-16. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Watch Ross Barnett Reservoir water quality
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyAlgae risk
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.
Algae and nutrients are often high — check current advisories before swimming. Skip the water if you see scum or a paint-like bloom
Water Quality Grade: F (Algae-prone)
Very murky, less than 1.7 ft of visibility. Phosphorus level: 70 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 35.3 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 67.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 1.7 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 70 µg/L | Poor |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 35.3 µg/L | Poor |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 67 | Hypereutrophic |
Very high nutrients, dense algae, poor clarity
Where to stay near Ross Barnett Reservoir
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Ross Barnett Reservoir in Madison 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 Ross Barnett Reservoir are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Ross Barnett Reservoir
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Recreation & Access
- Browns LandingPublic
- Goshen SpringsPublic
- Safe HarborPublic
- Goshen SpringsPublic
- Goshen SpringsPublic
- TommysSemi-private
Named access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, snapped within 5 km. More lakes with boat ramps
Fishing Ross Barnett Reservoir
County Ranking
Ranked #2 of 2 lakes in Madison County
Nearby Lakes in Madison County
Frequently asked questions about Ross Barnett Reservoir
Where is Ross Barnett Reservoir?
- Ross Barnett Reservoir is a lake in Madison County, Mississippi. LakeQuality grades it F for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Ross Barnett Reservoir?
- Ross Barnett Reservoir in Madison County, Mississippi has a water quality grade of F (Algae-prone). Water clarity: 1.7 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 70 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 35.3 µg/L.
Is Ross Barnett Reservoir safe to swim in?
- Algae and nutrients are often high — check current advisories before swimming. Skip the water if you see scum or a paint-like bloom. Ross Barnett Reservoir has a water quality grade of F (Algae-prone). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 35.3 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
Are there boat ramps on Ross Barnett Reservoir?
- Ross Barnett Reservoir has 6 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Browns Landing, Goshen Springs, Safe Harbor, Goshen Springs, among others. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Ross Barnett Reservoir across LakeGrade
More Mississippi Lake Rankings
Other Grade F Lakes in Mississippi
Hypereutrophic Lakes in Mississippi
Where this data comes from
365 measurements from 2 monitoring stations, 2020–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-21.
Collected and reported by
- MISSISSIPPI DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
21MSWQ_WQX365 samples · 2020–2025
Analytical methods
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
- 445.0 ~ EPA; Chlorophyll and Pheophytin in Algae by Fluorescence
Monitoring station identifiers (2)
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