During the spring and summer months, Northsiders Austin and Priscilla Resser enjoy taking their boat out on the Barnett Reservoir several times a week.
The couple, like most others who frequent the reservoir, typically visit all the restaurants in the area with boat access, wakeboard, kneeboard and ski.
“Sometimes we just go to the middle of the big water and sit and watch the sunset to relax and get away from everyone and all of the stress that we have on land,” Priscilla said. “We even go for a short ride around the reservoir to enjoy our boat and the water and sun.”
Once the coronavirus hit the U.S. and regulations began to be put in place in response to it, the Ressers began to use their time on the lake as a way to get outside while social distancing.
“It was the perfect solution to social distancing while also getting outside and enjoying the time we have together,” she said.
However, with Gov. Tate Reeves’ shelter-in-place order came a temporary ban on boating at the reservoir, as well as the shutdown of parks and ban on fishing. Multi use trails remain open.
“We are now forced to stay inside our home more often which statistically leads to higher depression rates. We do get outside for walks and go into our small backyard, but there is no comparison to getting out on the water in the boat,” Priscilla said, before Gov. Reeves updated the order to allow for fishing at boating at Mississippi’s beaches and lakes.
There was much concern last week as to why other options for activities remained open, but the reservoir functions had to close.
Sigman said, “Exercise on trails tends to be an individual thing and it is easier to distance oneself as compared to being confined on a boat. Also, boat ramps tend to be crowded places as are bait shops and gas stations.”
However, Priscilla said she noticed boaters taking extra precautions to ensure safety.
“When they started recommending practicing social distancing and limiting gatherings to no more than 10 people, we noticed that boats in the big water were doing their due diligence by practicing strong social distancing,” she said.
For almost two weeks, all boating on the 33,000-acre lake was prohibited, including power boating, personal watercraft, sailing, kayaks, sailboards, paddle boats, paddle boards and canoes.
Luckily, on April 17, Gov. Reeves made an ammendment to the order, allowing for some reservoir functions to resume.
The PRVWSD, the state agency that oversees operation of the lake, had also closed all 34 of its ramps and its parks. The order was also extended to private or commercial boat ramps on the lake, and to residents with boat houses and piers.
While the reservoir may be open to boaters, all parks, picnic areas and disc golf courses will remain closed during the governor’s shelter-in-place order, which has been extended through April 27.
Parks and sandbars will also remain closed, according to Sigman.
“We cannot control the 50 person limit the President talked about,” he said.
All boat ramps reopened on Monday, and the passage under the Northshore Causeway bridge is open.
Bank fishing and the Spillway recreation area are open.
Social distancing will be required on the bank, at boat ramps and in boats. Boat occupancy will be limited to the greater of two persons or 50 percent of the rated capacity of the boat.
Restrooms at boat ramps are also open.
“Individuals are going to stores like Home Depot and Lowe’s in the masses, but my husband and I can’t go sit in our boat on the reservoir? That just simply doesn’t make sense to me,” Priscilla said after the boating ban initially took effect. “I understand what they are trying to prevent due to the crowd that gathered up-river on flag island, but can’t that be prevented without shutting the entire reservoir down?”
“Not being able to do something that we truly love to do is taking more of a toll than you would expect. I am sure we aren’t the only ones with the amount of individuals that we usually see on the water whether they are fishing or just enjoying being on the water,” Priscilla said last week.
Luckily, she and others who frequent the reservoir will now be able to continue activities as they abide by social distancing restrictions.
