Reservoir Information
Federal reservoirs are an important source of water supply in Kansas, providing water in some manner to roughly two-thirds of Kansas' citizens. The State of Kansas owns storage in thirteen federal reservoirs operated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The ability of the reservoir to store water over time is diminished as the capacity is reduced through sedimentation. In some cases reservoirs are filling with sediment faster than anticipated. Whether sediment is filling the reservoir on or ahead of schedule, it is beneficial to take efforts to extend the life of the reservoir.
Reservoir Sustainability Initiative
Early in the 2009 Legislative Session, several Kansas natural resource agencies had the opportunity to present the Reservoir Sustainability Initiative to the newly created Vision 2020 committee. Presentations were made to the committee to highlight the existing condition of our reservoirs, actions currently underway to address sedimentation, and the need for a long-term commitment to our public water supply infrastructure. As requested by the committee, the Kansas Water Authority prepared a comprehensive report for the 2010 Legislature called the Reservoir Roadmap. The Reservoir Sustainability Initiative Graphic identifies the components of the Reservoir Sustainability Initiative within the context of a hypothetical watershed.
Reservoir Roadmap
The Reservoir Roadmap outlines the actions necessary to insure an adequate future water supply for areas currently or potentially served by federal, state or municipal reservoirs. The Reservoir Roadmap describes the current condition of our water supply and outlines the recommended actions to secure, protect, and restore this supply in the Neosho basin. Implementation of these actions will require statutory changes and dedicated financial resources.
- Volume I. Quantification of the Issue - Statewide Perspective
- Volume II. Statutory and Budget Considerations
- Volume III. Basin Approach to Reservoir Sustainability
Reservoir Accounting
The Kansas Water Office maintains reservoir accounting information for each of the federal lakes shown below. Information such as inflow, releases, and water in storage for each of the subpools within the conservation pool for each lake will be posted within one month after each calendar month.
| Big Hill
Lake Current Year or Previous Years |
Cedar Bluff
Lake Current Year or Previous Years |
Clinton Lake Current Year or Previous Years |
| Council
Grove Lake Current Year or Previous Years |
Elk City
Lake Current Year or Previous Years |
Hillsdale
Lake Current Year or Previous Years |
| John Redmond
Lake Current Year or Previous Years |
Kanopolis
Lake Current Year or Previous Years |
Marion Lake Current Year or Previous Years |
| Melvern Lake Current Year or Previous Years |
Milford Lake Current Year or Previous Years |
Perry Lake Current Year or Previous Years |
| Pomona Lake Current Year or Previous Years |
Tuttle Creek
Lake Current Year or Previous Years |
Reservoir Bathymetry
Lake Level Management
NOTE: Due to recent drought conditions and potential persistence of drought, plans that specify a seasonal elevation below the normal conservation pool elevation will not be followed. Water will not be released from conservation storage for the purpose of lake level management.
The purpose of Lake Level Management is to increase the benefits to recreational users and increase wildlife and aquatic habitat while protecting the flood control, water supply and water quality purposes of the lake. The KWO is charged by the State Water Planning Act with negotiating and entering into agreements with the Corps of Engineers and the Bureau of Reclamation regarding operation or releases of water from federal projects. These two federal agencies are responsible for the operation and maintenance for the state's 24 federal lakes.
Reservoir Information
Federal reservoirs are a vital resource for public water suppliers in Kansas, providing regional sources of stored untreated water to surrounding communities and industries. Communities either draw water directly from reservoirs, or from rivers where the flow can be supplemented from releases from the reservoirs. The KWO is working with other federal, state and local agencies to extend the usable life of these reservoirs through the development and implementation of watershed and reservoir restoration and protection strategies.
The KWO administers the State's Water Marketing and Water Assurance Programs, which utilize federal reservoirs to help meet the water supply needs of municipalities and industries in Kansas. Over time the transport and deposition of sediment from rivers and streams that drain into the reservoir reduces the amount of storage space available to store water. Pollutants and nutrients carried by these rivers and streams also degrade the quality of the water stored in these reservoirs. The following fact sheets provide a general overview of sedimentation issues associated with federal reservoirs in Kansas and the State Water Marketing and Water Assurance Programs. The reservoir fact sheets provide specific information about individual reservoirs.
