Marion Reservoir

Marion Reservoir is a body of water on the Cottonwood River, 3 miles (4.8 km) north-west of Marion, on the western edge of the Flint Hills region of Kansas in the United States. It was completed in 1968 and is operated by the Army Corps of Engineers for the purpose of flood control.

Marion Reservoir
KDOT map of Marion County (legend)
LocationMarion County, Kansas
Coordinates38°22′08″N 97°05′06″W
TypeReservoir
Primary inflowsNorth Cottonwood River,
French Creek
Primary outflowsNorth Cottonwood River to Cottonwood River
Catchment area200 square miles (520 km2)
Basin countriesUnited States
Managing agencyU.S. Army Corps of Engineers
BuiltFebruary 1968 (1968-02)
Surface area6,160 acres (24.9 km2)
Water volume67,734 acre⋅ft (83,549,000 m3)
Shore length160 miles (97 km)
Surface elevation1,348.79 feet (411.11 m)
SettlementsEastshore, Canada,
Marion, Hillsboro, Durham
References[1][2][3]
1 Shore length is not a well-defined measure.
1915 Railroad Map of Marion County (about 50 years before the Marion Reservoir was built)

This larger reservoir is also known as its older obsolete name Marion Lake which is often confused with the similar named yet smaller Marion County Lake which is south-east of Marion. Most locals refer to the larger body of water using the term 'Reservoir' (this article), and the smaller body of water using the term 'Lake'.

Geography

Marion Reservoir is located in Gale Township of Marion County, Kansas, United States. There are many entrances into the reservoir area. A two-lane paved road runs along the top length of the dam. The south edge of the dam is located approximately 1/2 mile north of U.S. Route 56 on Old Mill Road, where there is an information kiosk and public restrooms. The unincorporated community of Eastshore is located north-east of the dam. The closest cities are Marion (east of reservoir) and Hillsboro (west of reservoir).

History

Early history

For many millennia, the Great Plains of North America was inhabited by nomadic Native Americans. From the 16th century to 18th century, the Kingdom of France claimed ownership of large parts of North America. In 1762, after the French and Indian War, France secretly ceded New France to Spain, per the Treaty of Fontainebleau.

19th century

In 1802, Spain returned most of the land to France. In 1803, most of the land for modern day Kansas was acquired by the United States from France as part of the 828,000 square mile Louisiana Purchase for 2.83 cents per acre.

In 1806, Zebulon Pike led the Pike Expedition westward from St Louis, Missouri, of which part of their journey followed the Cottonwood River through Marion County including the land under the Reservoir.[4]

In 1854, the Kansas Territory was organized, then in 1861 Kansas became the 34th U.S. state. In 1855, Marion County was established within the Kansas Territory, which included the land for modern day Reservoir.[5]

20th century

In June and July 1951, the "Great Flood of 1951" occurred 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.[6] The 1951 record flood in the region was one of the leading reasons for building the Marion Reservoir, and downstream leevee's in the cities of Marion and Florence.

In March 1964, construction was started on the Marion Reservoir, the embankment closure was completed in October 1967, and the project was placed in full flood control operation in February 1968.[7]

21st century

In 2011, the Cottonwood Point recreation area was expanded by adding 61 new campsites, 23 new day-use sites, picnic shelters, and a new beach.[8]

Recreation areas

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.[9]

Recreation areas around Marion Reservoir
  • Cottonwood Point,[10][11] Class A. North of US-56 on Pawnee Road (note: Old Mill Road over Dam merges with Pawnee).
  • French Creek Cove, Class C. North of US-56 on Limestone Road.
  • Hillsboro Cove,[12] Class A. North of US-56 on Nighthawk Road.
  • Marion Cove, Class C. North of US-56 on Pawnee Road (note: Old Mill Road over Dam merges with Pawnee).
  • Durham Cove. 250th Street and Kansa Road. The undeveloped ramp is free.
  • Broken Bridge. The undeveloped ramp is free.
  • Overlook and Dam. North of US-56 on Old Mill Road.
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See also

References
  1. Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) details for Marion Dam; United States Geological Survey (USGS); October 13, 1978.
  2. "Marion Reservoir – Current Readings". U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Retrieved 2010-12-13.
  3. "Marion Reservoir – Fishing Information". Kansas Department of Wildlife & Parks. Retrieved 2010-12-13.
  4. "1806 Pike Expedition map through Marion County" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-03-17. Retrieved 2013-04-13.
  5. The History of Marion County and Courthouse
  6. Marion Reservoir - Information
  7. Marion Reservoir - History; US Army Corps of Engineers.
  8. Cottonwood Point expansion underway; Peabody Gazette-Bulletin; April 20, 2010.
  9. Marion Reservoir - Recreation Areas
  10. Marion Reservoir - Cottonwood Point - Recreation Information
  11. Marion Reservoir - Cottonwood Point - Public Use Expansion Study; U.S. Army Corps Of Engineers; September 2009
  12. Marion Reservoir - Hillsboro Cove - Recreation Information
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