The lake will be constructed in the Porter Creek watershed, which is east of U.S. Highway 98 and three miles south of Bude, Mississippi on the Homochitto National Forest lands.  A construction contract to build the dam was awarded to J.W. Parker Company of Natchez, Mississippi in August, 2000.  Construction of the dam began in October 2000, and will take approximately two years to complete.  Taking almost two years to fill with water, this would make the lake's opening date sometime in late 2004 or early 2005.

The lake will have approximately 1,000 acres of surface area with 39 miles of shoreline.  The dam will be 93 feet high (the second highest dam in Mississippi).  The water will be approximately 70 feet deep at the dam with an average lake depth of 31 feet.  This lake will provide approximately 300 acres for water skiing with almost 700 acres for fishing and quiet water sports.  The entire shoreline will be National Forest land, managed by the USDA Forest Service.

Stocked fish in the new lake will include: bluegill, redear, white perch, sunfish, black crappie, threadfin shad, fathead minnows, channel catfish and largemouth bass.  This stocking of fish will begin the first winter after closing the valve on the dam and should be completed in approximately 18 months.  Fisheries biologist Larry Clay says,  "A fish-stocking schedule has been developed which will establish healthy predator-prey relationships in the lake; thus ensuring sustainable fisheries and a quality fishing experience."

For more information regarding this project, contact lake project personnel at 601-384-2814.