Gator Tales

Volume 2, Issue 4 Newsletter Date: Spring 2013

A newsletter for the citizens of the PRVWSD community

The Pearl River Valley Water Supply District

Please help us reduce costs by taking the time to register now for the e-mail edition of the newsletter at: Response@TheRez.MS

Help Fund the Fireworks: The PRVWSD and the Barnett Reservoir Foundation are sponsoring a virtual marathon challenge to fund this years fireworks spectacular at the Independence Day Celebration at The REZ to be held Saturday, June 29.

For more information or to register for the marathon challenge, visit:

News Around the REZ

SCHEDULED EVENTS
4/6/13 4/6/13 Wild Walk & Run 5K Parkinson Race 5K&10K Old Trace Park Lakeshore Park Pelahatchie Shore Old Trace Park Old Trace Park Old Trace Park Old Trace Park Old Trace Park Old Trace Park Old Trace Park Old Trace Park

FOUR NEW FACES JOIN BOARD OF DIRECTORS

The PRVWSD welcomed four new board members in January, all leaseholders. Mr. Bruce Brackin, MS Department of Health Mr. Tedrick Ratcliff, Jr., MS Department of Forestry Mr. John Pittman, Governors appointee, Madison County Mr. Larry Castle, MS Department of Wildlife, Fisheries & Parks

4/13/13 Disc Golf Tournament 4/14-16/13 Expedition Natchez 4/20/13 Take Steps for CCFA 5K 5/4/13 Century Ride

5/10/13 Pepsi Pops 5/11/13 Run for Downs 5K 5/18/13 Dragon Boat Regatta 6/1/13 Heatwave Triathlon

PARK ENTRANCE FEE

Beginning May 1, the PRVWSD will begin enforcing the $3 vehicle entrance fee at Lakeshore, Old Trace and Pelahatchie Shore Parks. The entrance fee will be enforced on weekends and holidays between the hours of noon and park closing. Pavilion Rentals and Special Events will be issued entrance passes. Vehicles towing boats with the intent of launching at Pelahatchie Shore Park will be allowed free entry.

6/29/13 WaterFest

6/29/13 Independence Day Celebration

MASTER PLANNING NOTICE

SURVEY: The PRVWSD has contracted with a master planning provider, CMPDD, to assist with long-term planning for the continuing growth and improvement of the Barnett Reservoir. CMPDD has developed a survey for leaseholders to determine the needs and wants of the community in the direction of our growth. We urge all leaseholders to take part in the survey process so that we can better serve the community's needs. Visit: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/prvwsd

PROPERTY COMPLAINT?
Contact PRVWSD Property Maintenance Department to file a complaint. Call 601-856-6574 or file a complaint online at www.TheRez.MS

TIME FOR HOME IMPROVEMENTS?

Be sure to contact the PRVWSD construction department to determine if your home improvement project requires a permit. Call 601-856-6574.

CONSTRUCTION UPDATES
Phase 2 of the Fannin Landing: The project has begun, starting with the construction of two new boat ramps at the southeast corner of the landing. The ramps will include floating courtesy piers. Old Trace Park Electrical Improvements: The contracts for this electrical improvement project have been signed, and the project is underway and appears to be on time. This project is scheduled to be complete by early July. Leake County Water Park Onsite Wastewater Treatment Facility : This project is near completion; however, it has been delayed due to the frequent wet weather over the past month. It should be completed in the near future.

PUBLIC MEETING: The PRVWSD will host a public meeting to gather input from leaseholders and members of the community to aid in the preparation of a Master Plan for the PRVWSD. The meeting will be at 6 p.m. on May 13 at the Northwest Rankin Middle School cafeteria on Highway 25 in Flowood. The Central Mississippi Planning and Development District (CMPDD) will facilitate the meeting.

DREDGING: PHASE 1 APPROVED

The PRVWSD Board of Directors approved Phase 1 of the dredging program at its March meeting. The bidding process is underway and work should begin this summer.

FLOOD INSURANCE:

If you have received a flood certification letter from your insurance or mort-

Bigger and Better

Saturday June 29, 2013 Old Trace ParkRidgeland, MS Lakeshore ParkBrandon, MS
The Barnett Reservoir Foundation along with Pearl River Valley Water Supply District is hosting the 2nd Annual Independence Day Celebration on Saturday, June 29th. The event will include activities in both Old Trace and Lakeshore Parks. Both Rankin County and Madison County sides of the reservoir will be able to partake in the celebrations in their local parks. The parks will host kid zones, live music, food vendors, a classic car cruise-in, and military displays with flyovers. Patrons of both parks will enjoy the lighted boat parade, and of course, fireworks! The fireworks will be launched from a barge in the middle of the lake providing all a fantastic view. Admission will be free to all! Please visit the Barnett Reservoir Foundations website: www.barnettreservoirfoundation.org for updates on event information.
If you would like to participate or be a sponsor of the celebration, please contact Susan McMullan at 601-605-6880 or SMcMullan@TheRez.ms; Cindy Ford at 601-605-6898 or CFord@TheRez.ms.

Weed Control Goes Local: MDWF&P takes over in April

In its never-ending battle to control non-native aquatic vegetation, the Pearl River Valley Water Supply District has joined forces with the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks. Beginning April 1, the state wildlife agency is now under contract to conduct all on-the-water spraying in district waters. Reservoir general manager John Sigman said the change made sense from several standpoints, including increased confidence of lake user groups and involving a contractor that is already active in fisheries management at The Rez, has a constant presence on local knowledge of the lake and offers a quicker response time. The MDWFPs spraying program will be headquartered virtually lakeside, housed at its Turcotte Education Center and Fish Hatchery on Highway 43. Mississippi State Universitys nationally recognized Geosystems Research Institute, headed Dr. John Madsen, will continue to serve in an advisory capacity over the program, conducting annual surveys and designing a spraying program based on analysis.

Hydrilla

A Newsletter for the Citizens of the PRVWSD

P. O. Box 2180 Ridgeland, MS 39158 Phone: 601-856-6574 Fax: 601-856-2585 E-mail: cford@therez.ms

Name NUMBER STREET CITY ST ZIP

Show your support for The REZ by being one of the first 300 to register. You can pre-order your tag for only $31. Of that fee, $24 will go directly to The REZ for improvement projects at the reservoir. We must pre-sell 300 tags before the tax commission will begin production. Contact Cindy Ford at CFord@TheRez.MS or visit our web site for more information: www.TheRez.MS

CRAPPIE FISHING AT REZ

By: Bobby Cleveland

Reservoir fishermen take it for granted, the crappie fishing weve always enjoyed on the 33,000 -acre lake. Apparently the rest of the fishing world has taken notice, too. The Rez ranked No. 29 on a list of top 50 crappie fishing destinations by the popular fishing website Fishhound.com. Mississippi had seven of the top 50, including the No. 1 (Grenada), No. 2 (Sardis), No. 5 (Arkabutla) and No. 7 (Washington) lakes. Those lakes may be better known for producing giant trophy fish, but Mississippi fishermen know that Barnett is the most consistent and most productive of them all. There never seems to be an up or down year here, said Rabbit Rogers of Fannin, who fishes The Rez regul ar. Year in and year out, Barnett just has good crappie fishing with strong year classes throughout the population structure. April is the peak month for most crappie fishermen, including many waterfront leaseholders who catch spawning fish literally out their back doors. Spawning is a long process that begins with the males moving up first to establish beds where they wait for females to move up, select a mate and drop their eggs. Water temperature, current, moon phases and photoperiod (amount of daylight) all play important roles on when females spawn, so on a lake like The Rez with distinct different habitats, the spawn can last months. In normal years, it kicks off first in Pelahatchie Bay, followed by the upper main lake, the upper rivers backwater areas and eventually the lower open end of the main lake. Barnett Reservoir has two different crappie species, white crappie and black crappie, and there are cross breeds between the two. All share one common element fishermen love they are delicious. Did you know? Crappie go by many names, and one of the most popular is white perch, which lead to the perchjerker nickname given crappie fishermen. Truth is, white perch is biologically incorrect. A whi te perch is a totally different fish, known as Morone Americana, and is a member of a different family temperate bass. They are found mostly in brackish water on the East Coast and New England.