Lake Facts

Hillsdale Lake controls the downstream flow of water from a 144 square mile drainage area. Hillsdale Lake provides flood protection along Big Bull Creek downstream from the dam. As part of the Osage River basin system of lakes, Hillsdale also contributes to flood protection on the Marais des Cygnes, Osage and Missouri rivers.

As a water supply source, the lake can provide million gallons of water each day for municipal and industrial needs of surrounding communities. Rural Water District #2 and #7, Spring Hill and the city of Gardner are currently using water from Hillsdale.

The Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks leased 12,880 acres of land and water at Hillsdale, and manages the lake as a State Park.

The Corps of Engineers and the Kansas Dept. of Wildlife and Parks work together to complete prescribed burns, food plot plantings, tree plantings, native grass plantings, fescue conversion, and brush pile construction to provide a diversity of habitat types.

THE LAKE

Elevation, feet above mean sea level
Top flood control pool: 931.0
Top multipurpose pool: 917.0
Shoreline, miles (multipurpose pool): 51