NESHOBA COUNTY, Miss. (WTOK) - Pre-planning has begun at Neshoba Lake, now moving forward thanks to a massive grant from the Mississippi Outdoor Stewardship Trust Fund.

The lake has been closed and drained since 2024, due to structural issues with the dam and spillway.

“It’s A $3 million project. Right now we are in the pre-construction, pre-planning phases. We expect this project to go to bid in probably December of this year and construction to start in the first quarter of 2027,” said C. Scott Bounds, State Representative for District 44.

Bounds said construction is expected to last about a year, once ground is broken.

And the money won’t be limited to just repairing the dam! A portion of the fund will also go into improving the lake’s surroundings.

“We’re doing dam and spillway repair and renovation. We’re doing habitat improvements, we’re doing infrastructure improvements, boat access, ramps, piers, and are putting a rodeo pond separate from it over here for the fishing rodeos,” said Bounds.

And while the lake itself may be closed, fixtures like the pavilion and camper parking are still open to the public and are set to stay open for the duration of the construction.

“All the amenities out here are still open, the campground is still open, the rental pavilion is still open, and so the lake itself may be closed, but we do have the other amenities out here at Neshoba Lake that are still open.”