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| John Redmond Reservoir | |
|---|---|
| Name | John Redmond Reservoir |
| Location | Lyon County, Coffey County, Kansas, United States |
| Type | Reservoir |
| Inflow | Neosho River |
| Outflow | Neosho River |
| Catchment | Neosho River basin |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Date built | 1964–1968 |
| Area | 9,071 acres |
| Max depth | 54 ft |
| Volume | 75,000 acre-feet (normal pool) |
| Elevation | 1,021 ft |
John Redmond Reservoir is a federal multipurpose reservoir on the Neosho River in eastern Kansas, constructed by the United States Army Corps of Engineers. Located near Burlington and close to Emporia and Topeka, the reservoir provides flood control, water supply, recreation, and wildlife habitat while affecting regional river management and local communities. The project is named for a regional conservation advocate and is integrated into broader water management systems across the Great Plains.
The reservoir project originated during mid-20th-century federal water infrastructure initiatives led by the United States Army Corps of Engineers and shaped by flood events on the Neosho River and its tributaries. Congressional authorization followed postwar planning efforts that also produced projects on the Missouri River, Arkansas River, and within the Pick–Sloan Missouri Basin Program. Construction began in the 1960s amid coordination with the Kansas Water Resources Board and the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation for regional water needs. Completion in 1968 coincided with other regional works such as the Tuttle Creek Lake and Clinton Lake projects. The reservoir’s naming commemorated John Redmond, a Kansan known for advocacy in local conservation and civic affairs. Over subsequent decades, management adapted to evolving federal statutes like the Water Resources Development Act and to flood events that influenced Army Corps policy and cooperative agreements with state agencies including the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks.
Sited along the middle reach of the Neosho River, the impoundment lies within Lyon and Coffey counties near the city of Burlington, Kansas and downstream of the confluence with tributaries draining parts of the Osage Plains and the Flint Hills. The reservoir receives runoff from the Neosho River watershed, which connects hydrologically to the Arkansas River basin via regional drainage patterns and historical channel adjustments. Seasonal hydrographs reflect precipitation patterns influenced by the Great Plains climate and storm tracks from the Rocky Mountains and Gulf of Mexico. Sediment load and nutrient transport mirror land uses across the catchment, including agriculture centered around crops cultivated in the Central Flyway corridor. The reservoir’s normal pool and flood-control pool elevations determine shoreline exposure and habitat zonation across wetlands, riparian corridors, and managed grasslands.
Engineered by the United States Army Corps of Engineers, the dam is an earthen embankment with controlled outlets and a gated spillway designed to regulate discharge to match downstream conveyance capacity. Operational protocols integrate hydrologic forecasting from the National Weather Service and reservoir rule curves aligned with the Federal Emergency Management Agency floodplain mapping. Coordination occurs with municipal water providers from Emporia, Kansas and industrial stakeholders that obtain withdrawals under contract. Maintenance, dredging strategies, and sediment management have been influenced by studies from universities such as Kansas State University and by federal research from the U.S. Geological Survey on reservoir sedimentation rates and water-quality dynamics.
The impoundment and adjacent lands provide habitat for a diversity of North American species, supporting fish communities including largemouth bass, white crappie, channel catfish, and migratory paddlefish occurrences. Wetlands and shoreline habitats attract waterfowl migrating along the Central Flyway, such as mallard and goldeneye populations, and provide nesting grounds for shorebirds and wading bird species. Terrestrial habitats around the reservoir sustain populations of white-tailed deer, eastern cottontail, and grassland songbirds whose presence ties to conservation efforts by the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks and nonprofits like the Audubon Society. Aquatic vegetation and riparian trees interact with nutrient cycles and influence algal dynamics monitored by the Environmental Protection Agency standards for inland waters.
Managed recreation facilities include marinas, boat ramps, campgrounds, picnic areas, and designated hunting zones administered by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks. Visitors from regional centers such as Topeka, Kansas and Wichita, Kansas use the reservoir for boating, angling tournaments, birdwatching, and seasonal hunting. Adjacent trails and parklands host outdoor education programs run in collaboration with local school districts and conservation groups, while private businesses operate lodges and bait shops that serve tourists and anglers engaging in tournaments promoted by entities like the Bass Anglers Sportsman Society.
The reservoir’s principal federal purpose is flood risk reduction for downstream communities along the Neosho River, coordinated with state emergency management authorities such as the Kansas Division of Emergency Management. Its storage allocation supports municipal and industrial water contracts that supplement supplies during droughts for cities and utilities in the region, aligning with water allocation frameworks overseen by the Kansas Water Office. Flood operations have mitigated damages during major flood years, prompting adjustments to spillway operations and low-flow releases to balance ecological flow needs with human water demands, consistent with broader interstate compacts and federal water stewardship policies.
Beyond hydrologic functions, the reservoir has influenced local economies through tourism, outdoor recreation, and service industries in towns like Burlington, Kansas and Neosho County adjacent communities. The project affected land use and property values, shaping agricultural practices and prompting archaeological surveys tied to regional history with findings curated by institutions such as the Kansas Historical Society. The reservoir is featured in regional planning documents and local cultural events, with nonprofit organizations and civic groups leveraging its natural assets for environmental education and community festivals. Its role in regional resilience and recreation continues to intersect with public policy debates about water resources and rural development in the American Midwest.
Category:Reservoirs in Kansas Category:United States Army Corps of Engineers dams