Text and Photo by Elaine Giessel, Sierra Club Water Sentinels Leadership Team
Melvern Lake is located near I-35 in east central Kansas.The Corps of Engineers is authorized to operate Melvern Dam and Lake to provide flood damage reduction, recreation, water supply storage, fish and wildlife management, and downstream water quality improvement.
Five campgrounds are conveniently located around Melvern Lake. The Corps manages four out of the five campgrounds. They are: Outlet, Coeur d' Alene, Arrow Rock, and Turkey Point Parks. The State of Kansas manages the Eisenhower State Park campground.
Because it is heavily used by the residents of several population centers in the area, maintaining good water quality is critical to protecting public health and providing access to recreational opportunities.
Kansas City District > Locations > District Lakes > Melvern Lake > Learn About the Lake
Note: Parts of Lake Melvern are currently under a public health advisory for harmful algal blooms. Always check the KDHE website before planning a trip to a Kansas lake.