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Learn About the Lake

The U. S. Army Corps of Engineers planned, designed, constructed, and today manages Wilson Lake, located in central Kansas. The Corps of Engineers is authorized to operate Wilson Dam and Lake to provide flood damage reduction, recreation, fish and wildlife management, downstream water quality improvement.

The employees at Wilson Lake take pride in knowing that the people who visit Wilson Lake enjoy the clean water and relaxing surroundings. Here at Wilson Lake we take pride in what we do. 

The Corps of Engineers team at Wilson Lake includes people with knowledge and skills in many different areas. Professions represented on the staff include:

  • Parks & Recreation
  • Natural Resource Management
  • Facility Maintenance
  • Heavy/Emergency Equipment Operation

 The Corps manages 9,000 surface acres of water and an additional 13,000 acres of land surrounding Wilson Lake. The staff conducts dam safety inspection and maintains the dam and outlet works. Corps employees make water release changes to the Saline River in coordination with the Kansas City Water District Control Section.

Wilson Lake has three recreation areas that are managed and maintained by the Corps of Engineers. Sylvan Park, Lucas Park, and Minooka Park These parks contain level campsites, many with electrical hookups, picnic tables and fire rings.  Shower buildings, sanitary dump stations, playgrounds, and drinking water are located in most parks as well.

Many of the maintenance activities are contracted to the private sector. Mowing, trash removal, fee collection, facility cleaning and painting are just a few of the activities that are performed by private contractors for the Corps.

Some other activities performed by the Corps of Engineers here at Wilson Lake include public relations, visitor assistance, wildlife food plot management, tree planting, park patrol and park maintenance.