Water Quality

Clinton Lake is a major recreational facility in central eastern Kansas and serves boaters, swimmers, fishermen and many other water based sports. Clinton Lake is also a water supply for the City of Lawrence and surrounding rural communities.

The Corps of Engineers, City of Lawrence, and the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, all take part in testing of the waters of Clinton Lake for recreational use and drinking water supply.

Clinton Lake is the only storage project in the Wakarusa River watershed and is an integral part of the system of lakes for flood control in the Kansas River Basin. Releases from Clinton Lake are made to supplement low flows on the Wakarusa and Kansas Rivers for downstream fisheries, wildlife, and aesthetics. The general water quality of Clinton Lake has been excellent since storage began and since the multipurpose pool level was reached in 1980. District water quality personnel periodically record and analyze data collected from the lake.

As standards of quality for water become more stringent over time, testing for, and identification of potential problems with Clinton Lake’s water supply will become increasingly important. Cooperation with other agencies will be essential.