40 Miss. Code. R. 4-2.2 - GENERAL REGULATIONS FOR THE ROSS BARNETT RESERVOIR

Public Notice LE2 2986 is hereby amended.

A. Pursuant to the request of the Pearl River Water Supply District under the authority of Miss. Code Ann. § 59-21-129, the following regulations are adopted:

B. Definitions:

1. "District" means the Pearl River Valley Water Supply District.

2. "Reservoir" means the waters of the Ross Barnett Reservoir.

3. "Reservoir Project Area" means the Ross Barnett Reservoir and any body of land or easement owned by the Pearl River Valley Water Supply District, except lands designated as Pearl River WMA.

C. Operation of Power Boats in Congested Areas:

1. It shall be unlawful for any person, firm or corporation to operate any motor boat or other motor vessel in, along or around the Reservoir within the vicinity of any public launching ramp, commercial marina, yacht club or private lock or pier at a rate of speed which will cause a wake; provided that such area shall be conspicuously marked as a no wake zone.

2. It shall be unlawful for any person, firm or corporation to operate any motor boat or other motor vessel in, along or around the following areas in the Reservoir at a rate of speed which will cause a wake; Flag Island, Coal Bluff and Low Head Dam; Eddie's Island and Cut-Thru Pass Island south of Flag Island; provided that such areas shall be conspicuously marked as a no wake zone.

D. Swimming and Water Skiing: It shall be unlawful to engage in water contact recreation within the Reservoir in violation of the following regulations:

1. Swimming is prohibited in the Reservoir within one-quarter mile of the spillway of the dam or any boat launching ramp.

2. Water skiing in the Reservoir is prohibited within a distance of one-quarter mile of the spillway of the dam, and in all boat channels and harbors, including those within residential developments in the Reservoir Project Area, and wherever prohibited by posted signs.

3. Water skiing on the Reservoir between sunset and sunrise is prohibited.

4. No boat shall pull or tow more than one water skier at a time on the Reservoir upstream from Mississippi State Highway No. 43

E. Fishing: It shall be unlawful to fish from the spillway structure of the main dam at the Reservoir, or from a boat within 200 feet downstream from said spillway structure.

F. Hunting:

1. It shall be unlawful to hunt quail, migratory game birds, squirrel and rabbit within the Reservoir Project Area except with shotguns and in conformity with the regulations and rules prescribed by law and by the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks. It shall be unlawful to use slugs, buckshot and any shotgun load larger than number four within the Reservoir Project Area; provided however that any non-toxic shot approved by the USFWS may be used for hunting waterfowl only.

2. It shall be unlawful to hunt deer with the Reservoir Project Area, except in the following instances:

a. Deer may be hunted upon District lands expressly leased for hunting purposes.

b. Deer may be hunted with archery or primitive weapons on District lands open to hunting generally, except that no hunting of deer with primitive firearms shall be permitted in any area of Hinds, Madison and Rankin Counties lying south of the main dam and Spillway Road.

c. The running of dogs across District land during a season when deer hunting with dogs is permitted shall not, of itself, be deemed the hunting of deer.

d. The District reserves the right to close any area to any and all hunting at any time, upon the posting of reasonable notice to said effect. It shall be unlawful to hunt in any area closed to hunting hereunder.

3. It shall be unlawful to hunt within the following areas of the Reservoir Project Area:

a. Any land area of Madison County south of Mississippi State Highway 43 and north of Spillway Road, except that persons can hunt with archery equipment on any land area of Madison County north or east of Twin Harbors.

b. Any area of Hinds, Madison and Rankin Counties lying south of and within one-quarter mile of the main dam and Spillway Road, except with archery equipment.

c. On that portion of the Reservoir Project Area located east of a line running between the emergency spillway of the main dam on Spillway Road in Rankin County on the south and Fannin Landing Boat Ramp on Fam1in Landing Circle in Rankin County on the north, encompassing Pelahatchie Bay and its shoreline and that portion of Pelahatchie Creek that lies within the Reservoir Project Area.

d. Any area within one-quarter mile of any commercial or residential development.

4. It shall be unlawful to hunt hogs within the Reservoir Project Area except in those areas and during those periods that deer may be lawfully taken.

G. Each violation of this regulation shall also be considered a violation of the regulations of the Pearl River Valley Water Supply District and shall constitute a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of not more than Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00).

Notes

40 Miss. Code. R. 4-2.2

Miss. Code Ann. §§ 49-1-29, 49-4-4, 59-21-111, and 59-21-129.