Jackson Jambalaya

The Pearl River Valley Water Supply District issued the following statement:

Barnett Reservoir officials said Monday that rising water levels have allowed the reopening of all boat ramps on the 33,000-acre lake, which had fallen well below normal levels due to a months-long drought.

At 8:15 a.m. Monday, the lake level was at 295.7 (feet above sea level), an increase of 9/10s of a foot over the past week.

John Sigman, General Manager of the Pearl River Valley Water Supply District, the state agency that oversees operation of the lake near Jackson, said the level should continue to rise.

“We should see an increase in the amount of inflow into the lake over the next week, which means the lake will continue to rise,” he said, adding that the outflow at the dam would remain at a minimum. “The ramps are reopening today. However, we caution boaters to remain vigilant while putting in and pulling out at the ramps, and while running on the lake. The lake is still over a foot lower than normal, putting more obstacles near the surface.”

All but three of the ramps servicing the main body of the lake, Pelahatchie Bay and the spillway area had been closed in recent weeks. They were all reopened on Monday.