Lake Hico

Lake Hico is a cooling pond reservoir built on 16th section school land in Jackson, Mississippi, in the 1950s. Its primary purpose is to provide water for the adjacent Rex Brown Plant, which generates electricity with steam. Initially, Lake Hico was open to the public for recreation. The lake was closed to the public in the late 1960s, along with the public swimming pools in Jackson, when they were attempted to be integrated by Americans of African descent.

Water is supplied to Lake Hico by a five mile long pipeline from the Pearl River. Lake Hico is the headwater of Eubanks Creek, a tributary of the Pearl. Hico is an abbreviation for Hinds County, the county in which the lake is situated. The lake is leased to Entergy, the operator of the Rex Brown Plant, by its owner, the State of Mississippi via its trust for 16th section lands. The lease is overseen by Mississippi's Secretary of State, Entergy pays $258,000 per year for Lake Hico.

Lake Hico covers over 500 acres, including a 100+- acre island. The island divides the warmed water coming out of the plant from the cooler main lake. The island has a concrete boat ramp. The lake was home to the Jackson Yacht Club, until the much larger Ross Barnett Reservoir was built in early 1960s.

The lake is adjoined on the northeast by a city park. Lake Hico is encircled completely by a six-foot chain-link fence with "no trespassing" signs.

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