It shall be unlawful for any Person to camp within one-half
mile of any platted subdivision or on any land posted "No Camping" located
within the Reservoir Project Area except on property privately leased and not
open to the public or in campgrounds operated by the District. For purposes of
this regulation, "camp" or "camping" is defined as residing on or using
property for one or more nights for living accommodation purposes, such as
sleeping activities or making preparations to sleep or storing personal
belongings (including but not limited to clothing, sleeping bags, bedrolls,
blankets, back packs, food, drink, kitchen utensils and similar material),
making any fire, erecting any tent or make-shift covering, residing in a parked
vehicle or assembling for the purpose of camping. These activities constitute
camping when it reasonably appears, in light of all the circumstances, that a
person(s) is utilizing the space in a manner contrary to this
regulation.
(a) All camping conducted
on the Reservoir Project Area not within a campground operated by the Pearl
River Valley Water Supply District (PRVWSD) shall be primitive
camping.
(b) Definition of
primitive camping.
(i) Simple camping in a
natural setting without improvements or modern conveniences. Water, sewer and
electrical systems provided by a local authority are considered improvements.
Generators may be used provided that use complies with the PRVWSD noise
regulations and the generator is removed at the end of the camping
trip.
(ii) All equipment used in
camping must be brought to the site at the beginning of or during the camping
trip and removed at the end of the camping trip.
(iii) No permanent structures or facilities
may be constructed or installed. This includes but is not limited to lumber and
metal frames for holding tents and/or tarpaulins, decks and stairways. Metal
flag poles displaying the flag of the State of Mississippi and/or the flag of
the United States of America may be used.
(iv) Alteration of the natural setting or
habitat is not allowed. Campers may cut grass growing on the sandbars. Cutting
of trees and brush is not allowed.
(v) Camping is overnight stays of short
duration. The maximum time allowed for each camping trip is ten days. Campsites
must be cleared and cleaned at the end of each camping trip. Campers are
responsible for removal of all trash and camping equipment.
(vi) Campers wishing to camp for more than
ten days must move to another site and re-register for a new camper permit (see
section (e) below).
(c)
Items not allowed.
(i) Permanent ground
cover.
(ii) Permanent
structures.
(iii) Tarpaulins or
other materials suspended from permanent poles, rigging or structures. NOTE:
Tarpaulins used during the course of a camping trip are allowed provided the
tarpaulin is removed at the end of the trip and no permanent poles, rigging or
structures are utilized.
(d) Any camping conducted upstream of Highway
43 must be done so within sight of the Pearl River or the Reservoir.
(e) Campers must obtain a camping permit
(free of charge) by calling the PRVWSD staff at the Goshen Springs Campground
(601-829-2751). After normal business hours call the Reservoir Control Tower
(601-992-9703). Campers will be given a permit number. Only this number must be
displayed at the campsite. Information required to be provided to the PRVWSD
when obtaining a permit is as follows:
(i)
Name, address and cell telephone number of the responsible person on the
camping trip.
(ii) Location of the
camp. If the site is unknown, call the PRVWSD staff when the site has been
selected. Site location can be by latitude and longitude coordinates or local
name.
(iii) Planned duration of the
camping trip.
(iv) Anticipated
number of campers.
(f)
Camping permit number assigned by the PRVWSD must be displayed on the largest
tent or temporary structure located on campsite. Camping permit number should
be written on a paper at least 5"x 7" in size, and in block lettering. It is
preferred the permit number be placed in a "Ziplock" type clear storage bag and
hung in a location on campsite so the permit can be recognized from the water
by PRVWSD staff. Only the permit number is required to be displayed.
(g) Camping is not allowed within the Pearl
River Wildlife Management Area. Refer to Title 40, Mississippi Administrative
Code Part 2, Chapter 1.19.
