El Dorado Lake

El Dorado Lake

Location Butler County, Kansas
Coordinates 37°50′50″N 96°49′23″W / 37.84722°N 96.82306°WCoordinates: 37°50′50″N 96°49′23″W / 37.84722°N 96.82306°W [1]
Lake type Reservoir
Primary outflows Walnut River
Basin countries United States
Managing agency United States Army Corps of Engineers
Built 1981
Surface area 8,000 acres (32 km2)
Max. depth 60 ft (18 m)
Settlements El Dorado

El Dorado Lake is a reservoir on the Walnut River, 0.5 miles (0.80 km) north-east of El Dorado, int the Flint Hills region of Kansas. The lake is part of El Dorado State Park.

Geography

El Dorado Lake is located in Butler County, Kansas, United States. The are many entrances into the lake area.

The lake consists of approximately 8,000 acres (32 km2) of water, 4,500 acres (18 km2) of park lands and 3,500 acres (14 km2) of wildlife area.

History

It was constructed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and was completed in June 1981. During its construction, the present lake incorporated two smaller lakes that were already in existence, Bluestem Lake and old El Dorado Lake. The old El Dorado Lake was completely inundated by the new larger lake, but the dam of Bluestem Lake was breached and the remnants of that dam can still be seen on the Shady Creek arm of the lake. Management of the reservoir resources has been granted to the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks.

Zebra Mussels in El Dorado Lake

Zebra mussel veligers (larval zebra mussels) are too small to be seen with the unaided eye and they can be found in boat livewells, minnow buckets, boat bilges, water toys and anything else that is capable of holding even a small amount of water.

Recreation areas

Oblique air photo of El Dorado Lake and vicinity, facing northwest in August 2011

The park consists of four primary campgrounds which include the following amenities: a full-service marina; a sailing club; approximately 1000 campsites, some with utilities some without; picnic shelters; rental cabins; trails for horses, hiking and bicycles; swim beaches; shower houses and restrooms; ADA playgrounds; boat ramps and a laundry facility.

See also

References

  1. ↑ GNIS entry for El Dorado Lake

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to El Dorado Lake.
Official
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