Reservoirs
Federal reservoirs are an important source of water supply in Kansas, providing water in some manner to roughly two-thirds of Kansas' citizens. Construction of 24 reservoirs by the federal government spanned from 1940 to 1982 with Kanopolis Lake, the first, to Hillsdale Lake, the last to be completed. The Bureau of Reclamation has 8 Kansas reservoirs and 16 are projects of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The State of Kansas owns and/or manages conservation storage in 15 federal reservoirs operated by the Corps of Engineers.
Storage Capacity
Reservoirs in Kansas are constantly filling with sediment from inflowing water, reducing storage space used during drought. The graphic below gives a glimpse into the Kansas' water supply reservoirs current capacity due to sedimentation.
Interactive Map
Select a reservoir below for current conditions, reservoir operations, bathymetry reports, and other useful technical information.
Water Use and Accounting, 2024
Water Supply Storage Programs
The KWO administers the State's Water Marketing, Water Assurance and Water Supply Access programs which utilize federal reservoirs to help meet the water supply needs. Below are brief descriptions of each program and maps showing a geographical representation of the programs within the regional planning areas.
Water Marketing
The Water Marketing Program, the only one of its kind in the nation, began in 1974 when the Legislature enacted the State Water Plan Storage Act, authorizing the KWO to contract with water purchasers for sale of water from state owned storage in federal reservoirs. Long term contracts for the sale of water from these reservoirs must be used for municipal or industrial purposes; some water may be sold for other purposes on a short term basis if it is determined to be surplus. The purpose of the program is to develop adequate water supply storage to meet present and anticipate future municipal and industrial water needs, in the best interests of the state.
Cost of water is set annually by the Kansas Water Authority. The annually variable rate must be adequate to meet Water Marketing Program expenses.
- Calendar year 2023 rate is $0.473/1000 gallons
- Calendar year 2024 rate is $0.493/1000 gallons
Inquiries for application to the Water Marketing Program should be directed to Richard Rockel, (785) 296-0876.
Water Assurance
The Water Assurance Program was enacted in statute in 1986. The purpose of the program is to allow for coordinated operation of state-owned or controlled water storage space in federal reservoirs in a designated basin to satisfy downstream municipal and industrial water rights during drought conditions. The water assurance program enables the state to operate the participating reservoirs in a basin as a system, assuring downstream water right owners enhanced flow during times of drought.
To date, three assurance districts have been formed and are operational: Kansas River Water Assurance District No. 1, Marais des Cygnes River Water Assurance District No. 2, and Cottonwood/Neosho River Basin Assurance District No. 3.
Water Access
The Lower Smoky Hill Water Supply Access Program was enacted in statute in 2011. The purpose of the program is the same as the Water Assurance Program with two notable differences; membership is voluntary, and membership eligibility is extended to recreation and irrigation, in addition to municipal and industrial water right owners. The Lower Smoky Hill Access District was formed in 2016. Formation of additional access districts will require legislative changes, as this program area is statutorily defined as the Smoky Hill River from Kanopolis reservoir to its confluence with the Saline River.
Reservoirs by Region
Below are maps of water supply customers within their respective regional planning area:
- Cottonwood & Neosho River Water Supply Storage Customers Map
- Kansas River Water Supply Storage Customers Map
- Marais des Cygnes River Water Supply Storage Customers Map
- Smoky Hill River Water Supply Storage Customers Map
- Verdigris River Water Supply Storage Customers Map