NATCHEZ — While the Mississippi River is not affected by the drought conditions in the state, smaller bodies of water are.

The Mississippi River level currently reads 27.05 which is higher than it was last year. This may surprise a few people due to the lack of rainfall in the Miss-Lou area.

“The rainfall up north has made the river a little higher than normal,” Vicksburg Corps of Engineers Media Services Director Frank Worley said.

The Mississippi River is fed by the Ohio and Missouri basins, which have kept the level regulated this season, National Weather Service Hydrologist Marty Pope said.

“We depend on afternoon showers and tropical systems to blow through and keep the levels in the Natchez area sustained,” Pope said.

The river is expected to drop down into normal seasonal levels during August, September and October.

“If the weather pattern holds together like it has been, we can expect better than average river stages,” Pope said.

However, it is a different situation with smaller bodies of water. Ponds, lakes, creeks and smaller rivers are shrinking at an increasing rate.

“Grenada Lake is down 16 feet and Lake Sardis is seven to eight feet lower than normal,” Pope said.

The Ross Barnett Reservoir is evaporating three-tenths of an inch every two weeks. These conditions have posed a threat to boaters.

“Under water stumps and debris are now closer to the surface which can be harmful to boaters and skiers,” Pope said.

The Natchez area has received more rain than other counties, but boaters still need to take caution.

“The shallow water can pose a real threat,” Pope said. “People need to be aware of warning signs that are posted.”