Ross Barnett Reservoir
Ross Barnett Reservoir in Rankin County, Mississippi has a water quality grade of F (Algae-prone). Water clarity: 1.8 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 70 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 37 µg/L. Surface area: 33000 acres.
- Clarity
- 1.8 ft
- Area
- 33,000 acres
- 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 33,000-acre highly nutrient-loaded hypereutrophic lake in Rankin County, Mississippi. Water quality is graded F based on 2 sampling years through 2025. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available with 8 public boat landings. Compared to the 2 other monitored lakes in Rankin County, Ross Barnett Reservoir ranks #3 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, your state environmental agency, last sampled 2025-10-16. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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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 1.8 ft of visibility. Phosphorus level: 70 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 37 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 67.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 1.8 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 70 µg/L | Poor |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 37 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 Rankin 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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Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 33,000 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
No bathymetric survey has been published for Ross Barnett Reservoir, so its depth is not documented here.
Recreation & Access
- Fanning Landing CirclePublic
- Ross R. Barnett SpillwayPublic
- Madison LandingPublic
- Pelahatchie Shore ParkPublic
- Ross R. Barnett Reservoir DamPublic
- Ross Barnett Spillway OverlookPublic
Showing 6 of 8 documented landings from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory.
Named access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, snapped within 5 km. More lakes with boat ramps
Fishing Ross Barnett Reservoir
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Ross Barnett Reservoir is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Ross Barnett Reservoir Dam (completed 1962), built primarily for water supply on the Pearl River; earth-type dam, 65 ft tall and 18,400 ft long.
- Surface area
- 33,000 ac
- Normal storage
- 360,000 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 540,000 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 3,050 sq mi
- Hazard class
- High
- Owner
- PEARL RIV. VAL. WTR. SUP. DIST
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID MS02716 · Operator website
County Ranking
Ranked #3 of 3 lakes in Rankin County
Nearby Lakes in Rankin County
Frequently asked questions about Ross Barnett Reservoir
Where is Ross Barnett Reservoir?
- Ross Barnett Reservoir is a lake in Rankin 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 Rankin County, Mississippi has a water quality grade of F (Algae-prone). Water clarity: 1.8 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 70 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 37 µg/L. Surface area: 33000 acres.
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 37 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
Are there boat ramps on Ross Barnett Reservoir?
- Ross Barnett Reservoir has 8 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Fanning Landing Circle, Ross R. Barnett Spillway, Madison Landing, Pelahatchie Shore Park, 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
403 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_WQX403 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