Skip navigation

Local Information

State of Mississippi Information

Mississippi, one of the Deep South states of the United States. It is bordered by Alabama (E), the Gulf of Mexico (S), Arkansas and Louisiana, with most of the border formed by the Mississippi R. (W), and Tennessee (N).

Area, 47,716 sq mi (123,584 sq km).
Pop. (2000) 2,844,658, a 10.5% increase since the 1990 census.
Capital and largest city,Jackson. 
Motto,Virtute et Armis [By Valor and Arms].
State bird,Mockingbird.
State flower,Magnolia.
State tree, Magnolia.

Mississippi is traditionally one of the more rural states in the Union; not until 1965 did manufacturing take over as the leading revenue-producing sector of its economy. In 2000, Mississippi ranked third in the nation in the production of cotton, but soil erosion resulting from overcultivation and the destruction caused by the boll weevil have led to the increased agricultural diversification. The other most important crops are rice and soybeans. Today broiler chicken production, aquaculture (chiefly catfish raising), and dairying are increasingly important. The state’s most valuable mineral resources, petroleum and natural gas, have been developed only since the 1930s. 

Industry has grown rapidly with the development of oil resources and has been helped by the Tennessee Valley Authority and by a state program to balance agriculture with industry, under which many communities have subsidized and attracted new industries. Revenue from industrial products, including chemicals, plastics, foods, and wood products, have exceeded those from agriculture in recent years. On the Gulf coast there is a profitable fishing and seafood processing industry, and gambling is now booming in Biloxi and in long impoversihed Tunica County, in the northwest.

There are military air facilities at Columbus, Biloxi, and Meridian, as well as the Stennis Space Flight Center at Bay St. Louis. The state’s per capita income, however, remains the lowest in the nation.

 

*Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition, Copyright (c) 2003.

Bay Springs
Welcome to Bay Springs Lake and the Divide Cut Section of the Tenn-Tom Waterway! Bay Springs Lake, the only deep-water lake on the waterway, contains 6,700 acres and has 133 miles of shoreline.

The Lake is connected to the Yellow Creek embayment of the Tennessee River by a 25-mile long canal that was dug between the hills that separate the Tennessee and Tombigbee River Basins. Bay Springs Lake provides a variety of recreational opportunities including fishing, boating, swimming and water skiing. Numerous other facilities such as campgrounds, beaches, picnic areas, overlooks and a marina are provided for the enjoyment of our visitors.

These facilities are described in the following paragraphs. If more information is desired, the visitor should stop by our Visitor Center located at the Resource Office or call (662) 423-1287. The Bay Springs Resource Management Office and Visitor center is located on the east side of Bay Springs Lake about one mile from Bay Springs Lake about one mile from Bay Springs Lock & Dam. The building houses the staff that is responsible for Park and Natural Resource Management activities on the northern part of the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway. The building also contains a visitor center with exhibits and displays about the facilities available on the project, the natural resources of the area and the history of the area.

Fishing, Hunting and Wildlife Management
Fishing is a popular sport especially in the spring of the year. However this activity continues year round. Bay Springs Lake plays host to numerous tournaments throughout the spring, summer and fall months. Hunting is another activity that is popular during the winter and early spring months. Hunting is only allowed in certain areas around Bay Springs Lake and on the Divide Cut. These areas are managed by the Holcut Office of Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks. Hunters should contact the Holcut Office at 423-1455 prior to engaging in any hunting activity. In addition to wildlife management activities carried on by the State, the Corps of Engineers conducts several activities that benefit fisheries and wildlife. Spring and fall food plots are planted in selected areas around the lake to benefit deer, turkey and other species. Woody plantings are made annually. Nesting structures are provided for wood ducks, songbirds and squirrels. Fish attractors are installed in the lake each year by the resource staff and volunteers.

Marina
Bay Springs Marina is the only Marina on this section of the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway and is located on the north side of the Corps of Engineers operated West Damsite Recreation Area. The marina contains 150 boat slips ranging in size from 20 ft. to 60 ft. in length. Electrical service is available on some boat slips.

The marina provides fuel service offering gasoline and diesel, emergency service for stranded boaters and has boater s sewage pump out. Restroom facilities are available at the marina. Open since 1983 the marina is a family owned business operated year round by F.E. Mills Enterprises, Inc.

Boat Ramps
The Corps of Engineers operates six concrete boat ramps with paved parking areas around Bay Springs Lake and on the Divide Cut. There are three boat ramps on the east side of the lake Crows Neck, McDougal Branch and Cotton Springs, two on the west side at West Damsite and Piney Grove and one at the northern most end of the waterway at Scruggs Bridge. Waterborne restroom facilities are provided at each of these ramps. The City of Burnsville, MS operates a concrete boat ramp with gravel parking at their city park on the Divide Cut.

Prentiss County Mississippi operates two concrete boat ramps with gravel parking on the west side of Bay Springs Lake at the Bayberry and Gin Branch areas.

Picnic Areas and Overlooks
Bay Springs Lake and the Divide Section are blessed with numerous Picnic and Overlook areas. Facilities are available to accommodate large and small groups as will as individuals and families. Picnic facilities are available at West Damsite Recreational Area, McDougal Branch Recreation Area, Piney Grove Recreation Area, Paden Park and Overlook, Holcut Memorial Park, Divide Overlook and Scruggs Bridge Overlook with shelters being available at all these areas except Scruggs Bridge Overlook. All shelters are available for reservations.

When the shelters are not reserved, they may be used on a first come first served basis.

Water Related Activities
Bay Springs Lake has two beautiful white sandy beaches. Old Bridge Beach is located next to the dam on the west side of the lake and Piney Grove Beach is located inside Piney Grove Recreation Area. Both beaches have restroom facilities, showers, picnic shelters and volleyball courts. Gate attendants are provided for fee collection and security. The beaches are open from May through mid-September. There are 6,700 acres of water surface on Bay Springs Lake and 1,050 on the Divide Section that is available for boating and skiing. The area on the Divide Section is very popular with skiers because of its smooth surface and protection from the wind. Please remember that all Federal, State of Mississippi and local boating laws apply.

Camping
Piney Grove Campground is the only Corps of Engineer operated campground on this section of the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway. It is located on the west side of Bay Spring Lake within the Piney Grove Recreation Area. The Campground is operated from the beginning of March through the end of October each year. It contains 139 Class A campsites with water and electrical service. Three restrooms with shower facilities, a laundry building, a fish cleaning station, a sanitary sewage dump station, playground facilities and fishing piers are also available. A gate attendant is provided to collect fees and provide security. Piney Grove Campground can be reached by calling (662) 728-1134.

Camping is offered at the Bay Springs Marina at their Whippoorwill Campground, which contains thirteen campsites and two small cabins with water and electrical service. For information on these camping facilities call the Bay Springs Marina at (662) 728-2449.

Bay Springs Lock & Dam
Bay Springs Lock & Dam is the northern most of the ten locks and dams on the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway. It is located just above Mississippi Highway 4 about six miles west of Dennis, MS. The lock, which was completed in 1979 is 600 feet long, 110 feet wide and has a lift of 84 feet, which is the 3rd highest east of the Mississippi River. Six standard size barges along with their towboats can be locked through the forty-six million gallons of water.

It takes approximately fifteen minutes to empty a filled lock chamber. The lock is open year round twenty-four hours per day for boat traffic. The commodity most often transported through the lock is wood products, which account for about 50% of the traffic.