Photo Album

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Okhissa Lake and Recreation Area .on National
Forest Lands Franklin County, Mississippi
USDA Forest Service - Region 8 National Forests
in Mississippi Homochitto National Forest
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• There is a sixty-year history of local support
  for the construction of a recreation reservoir on
  National Forest Lands in southwest Mississippi.
• The Forest Service is building a 1075-acre lake
  and recreation area that will provide water, land
  and nature-based recreation opportunities.
• Economic diversity and rural development was a
  major factor considered in making the decision to
  begin this project.

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Main spillway riser 85-feet high
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Summer 2000
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Summer 2004
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May 2005 Looking east from top of dam
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May 2005 Auxiliary Spillway
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Summer 2001
Aerial view after limingof lake bed. Lime will
enhance lake fertilization which improves fish
habitat, provides increased productivity,
improves recreational fishing and manages
aquatic weeds.
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Natural spawning sites are limited in Okhissa
Lake because of steep slopes and no rocky areas.
Placement of spawning beds enhance the
productivity and fisheries habitat of the lake
and will improve the quality of fishing
experiences.
Crappie, largemouth bass, and bream (bluegill and
redear) will use the same gravel spawning beds
but at different times.
To improve the lake fishery habitat, fish
structures were installed before the lake bottom
was flooded.
Summer 2001
The male bluegill builds nests consisting of
dish-like depressions fanned out of a variety of
substrates with gravel preferred. Nests may be
solitary, but are usually in colonies, often in
association with other sunfish species, up to 500
per colony.
Spawning bed boxes
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May 2005
Spawning Beds
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Summer 2002
Stumps and tops are placed in conjunction with
ledges and channels to enhance cover and to
attract fish to specified locations
Generally channels and ledges will be located in
less than 35 feet and deeper than 5 feet of water
Ledges and channels will provide adequate escape
cover habitat for fish. Deep water is needed
immediately adjacent to shallow feeding areas to
allow adequate escape cover for fish
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May 2005
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Dedication of Okhissa Dam October 2005
Tony Dixon, Forest Supervisor Mississippi
Senator Thad Cochran Homer Wilkes, NRCS
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Fish stocking Fish stocking began once the valve
was closed. It will take 18 months to establish
a balanced fish population of predictor and prey.
Fish to be stocked include bluegill, redear,
white perch, sunfish, black crappie, threadfin
shad, fathead minnows, channel catfish, and
largemouth bass. Please do not add fish to the
lake, plenty of the right type will be stocked.
Unscheduled fish could destroy the balance and
cause the fish population to die off. If the
population remains balanced, there should be 5 to
7 lb bass to catch when the lake is open to
fishing in mid-2007.
bream
catfish
crappie
Fish stocking will establish the lake with the
proper species and numbers of fish to ensure a
balanced and sustainable fish population that
will offer a quality fishing experience to the
public.
bass
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Stocked Fall 2004
300,000 Fathead Minnows
200,000 Catfish
300,000 Bream
Redear and Copper-nosed Bluegill
Catfish and Bream provided by Mississippi Dept.
of Wildlife, Fisheries Parks
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22 day-old Bass
Bass was provided by
Private John Allen National Fish Hatchery
April 29, 2005
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80,000 Bass
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Timber along the road clearing-limit was cut from
September to December 2004.
Turn lane looking west toward Hwy. 98
Roads In partnership with Federal Highway and
Mississippi Dept of Transportation, seven (7)
miles of roads have been designed. The road
construction contract has been awarded and
construction has begun. Turn lanes along U.S 98
and two miles of roads will be constructed in the
first phase. As funding is
available, phase 2 will be completed.
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Beautiful scenic roads at Okhissa Lake
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Construction of water lines go across land and
across the lake.
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Resort
Day Use Picnic Shelter
Small Cabin
A second solicitation for private partnership
proposals for additional recreational
developments around the lake is expected to occur
early in 2007. Our objective is to reassess the
requirements of the original prospectus, which
received no response, and offer it as a public
solicitation for proposals. Major recreation
facilities, such as a lodge, cabins, restaurant,
marina and campgrounds around the lake will be
marketed for construction, maintenance and
operation through the Forest Service permit
program. All current appropriations have been
delegated. Further development will depend on a
successful bidder, as well as added
appropriations.
Picnic Activity Area
Double Cabin Dog Trot Style
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Design work is on going for recreation
infrastructure, including roads, beaches, and
boat ramps.
Beach Bathhouse with Snack Concession
Entrance Station
Restroom at Okhissa Lake
A high priority is construction of a Day-Use
Area, which will allow public access for lake use
by the time the lake is filled (anticipated 2007).
Beach Activity Area
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Cabins
Dam
Island
Resort
Camping
Marina
Day use zone Rd. 149
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April 1
Water Elevation approximately 279 feet Lake
Depth approximately 60 feet deep _at_ dam with 13
feet remaining for a total depth of 73
feet. Lake Surface Area approximately 720
acres with 355 acres to go for a total of 1075
acres. Lake Volume approximately 754,009,895
ft3 with 542,541,019 ft3 to go for a total of
1,296,550,914 cubic feet.
Okhissa Lake is estimated at 2/3 full.
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Fill line for water
Approximately 700 acres Fishing/canoeing area
Approximately 300 acres Water skiing area
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Quiet fishing area
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A quiet place to spend fishing or dreaming.
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Okhissa Lake Franklin County,
Mississippi Homochitto NF National Forests in
Mississippi Contacts Tim Reed, District
Ranger Tim Slone, Deputy District Ranger Mary
Bell Lunsford, Public Affairs Officer _at_
601-384-5876