Engineers are draining a central Kansas lake, here’s why

ELLSWORTH COUNTY (KSNT) – Federal workers are draining water out of a lake in central Kansas as part of a “drawdown” procedure.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) announced on Aug. 29 that it is beginning a lake drawdown at Kanopolis Lake. The procedure is expected to last from Sept. 2 through to Sept. 30, depending on weather conditions in the local area.

27 News asked the Kansas City District of the USACE why this process is necessary and how it will change the lake for people visiting the water. A USACE spokesperson said the agency is looking to drain the lake down from its current elevation of around 1464.9 feet to 1461 feet or down four feet in total.

“A lake drawdown is making deliberate releases to lower the pool to a target elevation, which is lower than normal. This release will be approximately 200-500 cubic feet per second, with a minimal downstream impact.”
USACE statement

The USACE said the existing channel at the lake is suffering from the effects of erosion and is deepening close to the stilling basin near the dam. If the USACE takes no action on this, it could hamper the agency’s ability to make regular releases from the outlet works at the lake.

Kanopolis Lake will be kept at the adjusted water elevation level until outlet construction on the dam is complete in 2026, according to the USACE. The total price tag of the project is $6 million. You can learn more about Kanopolis Lake and what is has to offer by clicking here.

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