Posted on October 29, 2025
Adam Choad, executive director of the Pearl River Valley Water Supply District, told the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee No. 7 that the district is seeking capital funds to finish current dredging work, to complete a new office and to support a study of the reservoir’s spillway gates. He also asked the committee to increase the district’s special‑fund authority to accommodate grant activity and to approve a personal‑services allotment.
Choad described the reservoir as originally authorized by a legislative act in 1958 and brought into use in 1965. He said the lake covers roughly 34,000 acres at full pool and the land the district manages totals about 50,000 acres, including approximately 12,000 acres of forest land. He said the district’s primary mission is supplying water — including to the city of Jackson — and that most revenue comes from leaseholds and campgrounds.
Choad requested $1,000,000 to complete the current dredging contract, calling recent dredging support from the legislature helpful. He said the lake is generally shallow (about 10 feet in many areas) and that dredging is necessary to protect water delivery and lake function. He also said the district has started a new office project on the Rankin County side with a lowest bid of $5,500,000 and asked the committee to consider a $4,000,000 supplemental appropriation to finish the building.
On the spillway gates, Choad said the district applied for a grant administered through the state Department of Environmental Quality for a study and estimated that a 35% local share would amount to about $400,000 if the grant is awarded. He said the award process would originate at the federal level and flow through DEQ, with the district likely as the local awardee.
Choad told the committee the district received a $2,300,000 grant for a new drinking-water well and is awaiting a backup generator that has been backordered; because of procurement timing the district may request reappropriation of some capital money into the next fiscal year. He said the district currently employs 93 people and asked for a personal‑services allotment of $6,800,000 to allow roughly 3% average raises to address turnover, noting 18 vacant positions and average maintenance-shop pay of about $26,000–$27,000.
Committee members asked about vacancies, reappropriation and project timing. Choad said some projects may need reappropriation because of procurement and scheduling delays and offered to supply a list of vacant positions and other details to the committee.
No formal motions or votes were taken during the district’s presentation.
