8 Kansas lakes impacted by drought conditions as water levels drop
TOPEKA (KSNT) - Engineers are monitoring numerous lakes in northeast Kansas this month as drought conditions continue to sap their water levels.
27 News reached out to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Kansas City District to learn more about the reservoirs it monitors in the Sunflower State. Recent dry weather, low rainfall and drought conditions have impacted each of these lakes by causing their water levels to drop recently.
"The Kansas City District operates nine reservoirs in Kansas," said Christine Paul, public affairs specialist with the USACE. "These all eventually flow into the Missouri River."
The USACE monitors each lake by comparing its desired pool elevation to where it is measuring at currently. The reservoirs listed below feed into the Smoky Hill, Kansas or Marias Des Cygnes river basins with the statistics being accurate as of Oct. 30.
All of the reservoirs being monitored by the Kansas City District of the USACE are below the desired water level with Clinton lake being the sole exception. Tuttle Creek has dropped the most out of all the reservoirs at more than five feet.
- Kanopolis
- Desired level - 1463 ft.
- Current elevation - 1461.88 ft.
- Wilson
- Desired level - 1516 ft.
- Current elevation - 1511.29 ft.
- Milford
- Desired level - 1144.4 ft.
- Current elevation - 1143.13 ft.
- Tuttle Creek
- Desired level - 1075 ft.
- Current elevation - 1069.53 ft.
- Perry
- Desired level - 891.5 ft.
- Current elevation - 890.43 ft.
- Clinton
- Desired level - 875.5 ft.
- Current elevation - 875.73 ft.
- Melvern
- Desired level - 1036 ft.
- Current elevation - 1034.88 ft.
- Pomona
- Desired level - 974 ft.
- Current elevation - 973.01 ft.
- Hillsdale
- Desired level - 917 ft.
- Current elevation - 914.78 ft.
Paul said the USACE tries to keep each reservoir full but, during dry periods, water will be released. This is to help with water supply and quality in the river basins.
The U.S. Drought Monitor (USDM) shows that much of Kansas, more than 75%, is currently experiencing moderate to severe drought conditions. This prompted the USACE to take action in late October by reducing the amount of water it draws from its northeast Kansas lakes as part of its water management plan.
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