Highest elevation lakes & reservoirs in Mississippi by altitude
While lake levels can flucuate frequently based on several circumstances, the altitude/elevation of a lake is based on its normal water level, measured by the lake’s surface distance above sea level. For a reservoir, this water level is also known as “full pond” or “full pool”.Low lake levels can occur due to deliberate seasonal draw downs for irrigation or impending snow melt, reduced water inflows, drought and evaporation, residential or commercial water demands, and hydropower generation. Some lakes’ minimum and maximum elevations are virtually the same. Lakes that generate hydropower may vary by several feet – according to power demand. Lakes whose primary purpose is to prevent flooding can seasonally vary by 100 feet or more. When some lakes reach their minimum elevation, their boat ramps may not be long enough to permit boat access – and boats docked on shallow parts of the lake may end up on dry ground. In those cases, kayakers and shore-based anglers may be among the few happy recreational users of the lake.
A lake’s highest water level, measured by the lake’s surface distance above sea level, that can occur during flooding. A lake’s highest possible maximum elevation is usually the top of the lake’s dam or spillway. At lakes that include residential development, government regulations usually forbid the construction of homes below a lake’s maximum elevation.
You can find many of the world’s highest-elevated lakes on LakeLubbers. Lakes with the lowest elevations (known by LakeLubbers) are shown on the final page of that list. Note: For some lakes, "Altitude/Elevation" data is unknown, so this table may display fewer lakes than the total 16 articles we have published for Mississippi lakes.
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Below are lakes within USA > US South Region > Mississippi > Compared by highest altitude/elevation in feet. This list does not represent all lakes in Mississippi, only the 16 Mississippi lake articles we have published on the LakeLubbers website.
Lake name  |
Elevation in feet |
Lake description |
|---|---|---|
| Pickwick Lake, AL/MS/TN (Alabama, Hills Region, MS, Mississippi, Mountains Region, AL, Tennessee, US South Region, USA, West Tennessee) |
407 ft | Also known as Pickwick Reservoir Pickwick Lake is a 43,100-acre reservoir created by the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) with construction of Pickwick Landing Dam across the Tennesse … |
| Ross Barnett Reservoir (Capital-River Region, MS, Mississippi, US South Region, USA) |
298 ft | Also known as The Rez Ross Barnett Reservoir, known locally as The Rez, has found its way into the hearts of the Capital River region of Mississippi. The 33,000-acre reserv … |
| Sardis Lake, MS (Hills Region, MS, Mississippi, US South Region, USA) |
286 ft | Sardis Lake is a popular visitor destination with over 5 million people flocking to the water each year. Located in the counties of Panola, Lafayette … |
| Enid Lake, MS (Hills Region, MS, Mississippi, US South Region, USA) |
272 ft | Enid Lake, located in northern Mississippi’s Hill Region, is about an hour’s drive south of Memphis, Tennessee. Originally designed for flood control, … |
| Arkabutla Lake, MS (Hills Region, MS, Mississippi, US South Region, USA) |
244 ft | Arkabutla Lake, a popular vacation destination located on the Scenic Loop 304 in Mississippi, is less than a half hour drive from Memphis. Over 2 mill … |
| Grenada Lake, MS (Hills Region, MS, Mississippi, US South Region, USA) |
237 ft | Grenada Lake, located northeast of Grenada in Mississippi’s Hill Region, is the largest body of water lying completely within the state. With 35,820 a … |