Pearl River
Brandon, Mississippi, United States
Site is on upstream edge of sandbar on right downstream bank of Pearl River located 0.25 miles south of the Lake Hico water intake tower on River. Site is upstream of confluence with Purple Creek. Access is from the east end of Westbrook Road. Westbrook Road ends at the open gate to the Westbrook family compound. Drive thru the open gate on the gravel road and continue straight. Gravel track will change to dirt track at 0.10 mile from gate where the gravel drive to the Westbrook family compound veers to left – continue straight. Park on side of track at bar gate located on
right side that leads to the Lake Hico water intake structure on the Pearl River. The trail or path to the sandbar begins here. Walk down the open access track to the Lake Hico intake structure. Continue straight past intake along trails thru the woods along and near the upper bank of the Pearl River. The distance is 0.4 miles from the parking site to the sandbar. Sample the river at the upstream edge of the sandbar. The Pearl River bank at the end of Westbrook Road is high and steep. If walking to the sandbar site is not desirable, alternative sampling sites are along the river downstream from the Lake Hico water intake structure, although the very steep river bank is ~ 15 – 25 feet in height in these areas. Jack Westbrook owns the property where parking is located and down the trails thru woodlands to the sandbar. Louise York lives nearby. The driveway to Ms. York’s house is the last gravel drive to the right just before the Westbrook gate. Ms. York contacted Mr. Westbrook about the desire of RiverKeepers to monitor the Pearl River at this location, and Mr. Westbrook approved.
Location created by
Abby Braman
- Group: Mississippi State University : Mississippi Water Stewards
- Lat: 32.3650645
- Lng: -90.1007438
- Waterbody Type: River
- Timezone: America/Chicago
Latest photos
water dropping from high water last week, but still up. 21.3 feet at Hwy 25 Lakeland downstream gauge. A few suds in swift moving water.
River high and flooded. Access to normal Westbrook site cut off due to flood. Testing was from an alternative site ca. 400 feet upstream on high river bank at comparable location at Lake Hico water intake structure. Intake structure no longer is operable. River at 26.5 feet at the Hwy 25 Lakeland downstream gauge.
River at 18' at Hwy 25 Lakeland gauge, running at about summer low.
River at 18.3 feet at downstream Hwy 25-Lakeland gauge, not running high or flooded.
River is at 18 feet on the downstream Hwy 25-Lakeland gauge, with a slight rise from 17.4 feet at 0800 earlier in the day. River running lower than last week and approximately at a normal summer flow at this site.
River at 20 feet at Lakeland Hwy 25 downstream gauge, down 10+ feet from high water week before, and a fall of about 3 feet from 2 days before. Turbid, visibility about 2.5 feet.
Pearl River is at flood stage from heavy rain and increased discharge from upstream reservoir spillway dam. Gauge is 33 feet at Hwy 25 Lakeland Dr. Gauge and 28.7 feet at Jackson Gauge, both downtream. Standard sample site at sandbar was not accessible due to overbank and backwater flooding covering the trail thru bottomland hardwood forest. However, I took this sample at a nearby location 1000 feet upstream on a high bank in same river reach and where no other intermittent, perennial or other streams entered and the adjacent habitat is all forested. I consider this as a comparable sample to the usual site 1000 feet downstream. This sample was collected downstream from the Lake Hico water intake structure, which was not operating. River was high, swift, and muddy.
Scattered thunderstorms and rainy, including day before. River has risen since prior sampling last week. Downstream Lakeland Hwy 25 gauge at 21 feet. River water clarity is not muddy, however.
River stage at downstream Hwy 25 gauge on slight fall after rise from earlier rain and release from reservoir spillway. Stage similar as last week. See stage gauge photo. Several beer bottles and an ATV 4wheel track on bar, probably from earlier Memorial Day weekend.
River stage from downstream gauge at Lakeland Drive Hwy 25. River has been stable at this stage for the past several days. Sample from upstream edge of sandbar. No garbage or trash in water or at site.