[3] The PRVWSD is tasked to govern a 45-mile-long water basin comprising the Ross Barnett Reservoir and portions of the Pearl River, as well as land within one-quarter mile from the shoreline.
A five-year survey commissioned by the district, and headed by the Water Resources branch of Mississippi State University, studied the environmental impact of invasive plants in the reservoir.
[8] The PRVWSD utilizes a number of methods to control the spread of invasive plants, including public education programs and the spraying of EPA approved herbicides.
[9] The Ross Barnett Reservoir serves as the primary source of drinking-water for Mississippi's nearby capital city, Jackson.
The spillway is monitored 24-hours via a computer system and surveillance cameras located in the control tower situated on top of the dam.
Computer software developed by the Mississippi Valley Division of the Corps of Engineers assist spillway operators in maintaining the correct discharge amount.
[14] Since that time the Mississippi Valley Division of the Corps of Engineers, the City of Jackson, and the PRVWSD- as well as other involved agencies- have cooperated to develop an action plan in the event of another flood.
[15] There have also been numerous, highly debated, proposals over the years for additional flood control measures, both upstream and below the dam, but specific projects have yet to be approved.