![Stouffer's Railroad Map of Kansas 1915-1918 Marion County](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/41/Stouffer%27s_Railroad_Map_of_Kansas_1915-1918_Marion_County.png)
Marion Reservoir is a body of water on the
Cottonwood River, north-west of
Marion Marion may refer to:
People
*Marion (given name)
*Marion (surname)
*Marion Silva Fernandes, Brazilian footballer known simply as "Marion"
*Marion (singer), Filipino singer-songwriter and pianist Marion Aunor (born 1992)
Places Antarctica
* Mario ...
, on the western edge of the
Flint Hills
The Flint Hills, historically known as Bluestem Pastures or Blue Stem Hills, are a region in eastern Kansas and north-central Oklahoma named for the abundant residual flint eroded from the bedrock that lies near or at the surface. It consists o ...
region of
Kansas
Kansas () is a state in the Midwestern United States. Its capital is Topeka, and its largest city is Wichita. Kansas is a landlocked state bordered by Nebraska to the north; Missouri to the east; Oklahoma to the south; and Colorado to the ...
in the United States.
It was completed in 1968 and is operated by the
Army Corps of Engineers for the purpose of
flood
A flood is an overflow of water ( or rarely other fluids) that submerges land that is usually dry. In the sense of "flowing water", the word may also be applied to the inflow of the tide. Floods are an area of study of the discipline hydrol ...
control.
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
Marion County Lake is a body of water, southeast of Marion at 170th Street, on the western edge of the Flint Hills region of Kansas in the United States. This small lake is not the larger Marion Reservoir, which is northwest of Marion.
Geograph ...
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
Marion County (standard abbreviation: MN) is a county located in the U.S. state of Kansas. Its county seat is Marion and its most populous city is Hillsboro. As of the 2020 census, the county population was 12,660. The county was named in h ...
, United States. There are many entrances into the reservoir area. A two-lane paved road runs along the top length of the
dam
A dam is a barrier that stops or restricts the flow of surface water or underground streams. Reservoirs created by dams not only suppress floods but also provide water for activities such as irrigation, human consumption, industrial use ...
. 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
Historically, a kiosk () was a small garden pavilion open on some or all sides common in Iran, Persia, the Indian subcontinent, and in the Ottoman Empire from the 13th century onward. Today, several examples of this type of kiosk still exist ...
and public
restrooms
A public toilet, restroom, public bathroom or washroom is a room or small building with toilets (or urinals) and sinks for use by the general public. The facilities are available to customers, travelers, employees of a business, school pupils ...
. The unincorporated community of
Eastshore is located north-east of the dam. The closest cities are
Marion Marion may refer to:
People
*Marion (given name)
*Marion (surname)
*Marion Silva Fernandes, Brazilian footballer known simply as "Marion"
*Marion (singer), Filipino singer-songwriter and pianist Marion Aunor (born 1992)
Places Antarctica
* Mario ...
(east of reservoir) and
Hillsboro (west of reservoir).
History
Early history
For many
millennia
A millennium (plural millennia or millenniums) is a period of one thousand years, sometimes called a kiloannum (ka), or kiloyear (ky). Normally, the word is used specifically for periods of a thousand years that begin at the starting point (ini ...
, the
Great Plains
The Great Plains (french: Grandes Plaines), sometimes simply "the Plains", is a broad expanse of flatland in North America. It is located west of the Mississippi River and east of the Rocky Mountains, much of it covered in prairie, steppe, an ...
of
North America
North America is a continent in the Northern Hemisphere and almost entirely within the Western Hemisphere. It is bordered to the north by the Arctic Ocean, to the east by the Atlantic Ocean, to the southeast by South America and the Car ...
was inhabited by
nomadic
A nomad is a member of a community without fixed habitation who regularly moves to and from the same areas. Such groups include hunter-gatherers, pastoral nomads (owning livestock), tinkers and trader nomads. In the twentieth century, the popu ...
Native Americans. From the 16th century to 18th century, the
Kingdom of France
The Kingdom of France ( fro, Reaume de France; frm, Royaulme de France; french: link=yes, Royaume de France) is the historiographical name or umbrella term given to various political entities of France in the medieval and early modern period. ...
claimed ownership of large parts of
North America
North America is a continent in the Northern Hemisphere and almost entirely within the Western Hemisphere. It is bordered to the north by the Arctic Ocean, to the east by the Atlantic Ocean, to the southeast by South America and the Car ...
. In 1762, after the
French and Indian War
The French and Indian War (1754–1763) was a theater of the Seven Years' War, which pitted the North American colonies of the British Empire against those of the French, each side being supported by various Native American tribes. At the ...
, France secretly ceded
New France
New France (french: Nouvelle-France) was the area colonized by France in North America, beginning with the exploration of the Gulf of Saint Lawrence by Jacques Cartier in 1534 and ending with the cession of New France to Great Britain and Spai ...
to
Spain
, image_flag = Bandera de España.svg
, image_coat = Escudo de España (mazonado).svg
, national_motto = ''Plus ultra'' (Latin)(English: "Further Beyond")
, national_anthem = (English: "Royal March")
, i ...
, 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
The Louisiana Purchase (french: Vente de la Louisiane, translation=Sale of Louisiana) was the acquisition of the territory of Louisiana by the United States from the French First Republic in 1803. In return for fifteen million dollars, or app ...
for 2.83
cents per
acre
The acre is a unit of land area used in the imperial
Imperial is that which relates to an empire, emperor, or imperialism.
Imperial or The Imperial may also refer to:
Places
United States
* Imperial, California
* Imperial, Missouri
* Imp ...
.
In 1806,
Zebulon Pike
Zebulon Montgomery Pike (January 5, 1779 – April 27, 1813) was an American brigadier general and explorer for whom Pikes Peak in Colorado was named. As a U.S. Army officer he led two expeditions under authority of President Thomas Jefferson th ...
led the
Pike Expedition
The Pike Expedition (July 15, 1806 – July 1, 1807) was a military party sent out by President Thomas Jefferson and authorized by the United States government to explore the south and west of the recent Louisiana Purchase.Berry, Trey; Pam ...
westward from
St Louis, Missouri
St. Louis () is the second-largest city in Missouri, United States. It sits near the confluence of the Mississippi and the Missouri Rivers. In 2020, the city proper had a population of 301,578, while the bi-state metropolitan area, which ...
, of which part of their journey followed the
Cottonwood River through
Marion County including the land under the Reservoir.
In 1854, the
Kansas Territory
The Territory of Kansas was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from May 30, 1854, until January 29, 1861, when the eastern portion of the territory was admitted to the United States, Union as the Slave and ...
was organized, then in 1861
Kansas
Kansas () is a state in the Midwestern United States. Its capital is Topeka, and its largest city is Wichita. Kansas is a landlocked state bordered by Nebraska to the north; Missouri to the east; Oklahoma to the south; and Colorado to the ...
became the 34th
U.S. state
In the United States, a state is a constituent political entity, of which there are 50. Bound together in a political union, each state holds governmental jurisdiction over a separate and defined geographic territory where it shares its sover ...
. In 1855,
Marion County was established within the
Kansas Territory
The Territory of Kansas was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from May 30, 1854, until January 29, 1861, when the eastern portion of the territory was admitted to the United States, Union as the Slave and ...
, which included the land for modern day Reservoir.
[The History of Marion County and Courthouse](_blank)
/ref>
20th century
In June and July 1951, the "Great Flood of 1951
In mid-July 1951, heavy rains led to a great rise of water in the Kansas River, Missouri River, and other surrounding areas of the Central United States. Flooding occurred in the Kansas, Neosho, Marais Des Cygnes, and Verdigris river basins. ...
" occurred with a peak discharge of and a volume of which is equivalent to of runoff from the drainage area above the dam site. 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 Marion may refer to:
People
*Marion (given name)
*Marion (surname)
*Marion Silva Fernandes, Brazilian footballer known simply as "Marion"
*Marion (singer), Filipino singer-songwriter and pianist Marion Aunor (born 1992)
Places Antarctica
* Mario ...
and Florence
Florence ( ; it, Firenze ) is a city in Central Italy and the capital city of the Tuscany region. It is the most populated city in Tuscany, with 383,083 inhabitants in 2016, and over 1,520,000 in its metropolitan area.Bilancio demografico an ...
.
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.
21st century
In 2011, the Cottonwood Point recreation area underwent a $7.9 million expansion to add more camp and day use sites by adding 61 new campsites, 23 new day-use sites, picnic shelters, and a new beach. Campsites boast shade, picnic areas, grills and two boat ramps between sites 62 and 67. Electrical pedestals are either 50/30/20 or 30/20 amp. The 20 amp outlets are standard USA 110 Volt wall outlets.
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.
;Recreation areas around Marion Reservoir
* Cottonwood Point, 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,Marion Reservoir - Hillsboro Cove - Recreation Information
/ref> 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.
See also
* List of Kansas state parks
List of state parks in the U.S. state of Kansas operated by the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks:
See also
* List of U.S. national parks
*Big Basin Prairie Preserve
The Big Basin Prairie Preserve is a nature preserve owned and mana ...
* List of lakes, reservoirs, and dams in Kansas
This is a listing of lakes, reservoirs, and dams located in the State of Kansas.
Lakes and reservoirs by size
The shorelines of Kansas Lakes are mostly in government ownership and open to the public for hunting, fishing, camping, and hiki ...
* List of rivers of Kansas
This is a list of rivers in Kansas (U.S. state).
By drainage basin
This list is arranged by drainage basin, with respective tributaries indented under each larger stream's name.
Mississippi River Basin
Arkansas River Basin
*Arkansas River
* ...
References
External links
;Official
Marion Reservoir
US Army Corps of Engineers
Marion Reservoir Recreation
US Army Corps of Engineers
;Hydrologic
Hydrologic Levels
National Weather Service
;Maps
* Marion County Maps
Current
Historic
KDOT
Topo Map of Aulne / Canada / Marion area
USGS
Topo Map of Eastshore / Pilsen area
USGS
{{Authority control
Reservoirs in Kansas
State parks of Kansas
Protected areas of Marion County, Kansas
Bodies of water of Marion County, Kansas