| Marion Reservoir | |
|---|---|
| 2005 KDOT Map of Marion County, Kansas | |
| Location | Marion County, Kansas |
| Coordinates | [1] |
| Lake type | Reservoir |
| Primary inflows | North Cottonwood River, French Creek |
| Primary outflows | North Cottonwood River |
| Catchment area | 200 square miles (520 km2) [2] |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Built | February 1968 |
| Surface area | 6,160 acres (24.9 km2) [3] |
| Water volume | 67,734 acre·ft (83,549,000 m3) |
| Shore length1 | 60 miles (97 km) |
| Surface elevation | 1,348.79 feet (411.11 m) [2] |
| Settlements | Eastshore, Canada, Marion, Hillsboro, Durham |
| References | [2] [3] |
| 1 Shore length is not a well-defined measure. | |
Marion Reservoir is a reservoir on the Cottonwood River and 3 miles (4.8 km) north-west of Marion, on the western edge of the Flint Hills region of Kansas. It was completed in 1968 and is operated by the Army Corps of Engineers for the purpose of flood control. This larger reservoir is also known as the Marion Lake, and is often confused with the similar named yet smaller and older Marion County Lake which is south-east of Marion. Most locals refer to the larger one using the term 'Reservoir' and smaller one using the term 'Lake'.
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A flood of record occurred in June and July 1951 with a peak discharge of 54,000 cu ft/s (1,500 m3/s) and a volume of 78,950 acre feet (97,380,000 m3) which is equivalent to 7.40 inches (188 mm) of runoff from the drainage area above the dam site.[4] The 1951 record flood in the region was one of the leading reasons for building the Marion Reservoir, and downstream leevee's in Marion and Florence.
Construction was started in March 1964, embankment closure was completed in October 1967, and the project was placed in full flood control operation in February 1968.
In 2011, the Cottonwood Point recreation area will be expanded by adding 61 new campsites, 23 new day-use sites, picnic shelters, and a new beach.[5]
Camping and picnicking opportunities are numerous in four parks: Cottonwood Point, Hillsboro Cove, Marion Cove, French Creek Cove. Campsites contain picnic tables, grills and/or fire-rings, sun-shelters, and gravel parking pads. Facilities at class "A" parks (Cottonwood Point and Hillsboro Cove) include electrical hookups, showers, RV dump stations, group camping areas, group picnic areas, playgrounds, and beaches. Potable water is available in all parks.[6]
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