USACE Pass Information

USACE Annual Pass = $40. Pass holders receive free entrance to U.S. Army Corps of Engineers-operated sites nationwide that charge day use fees. The pass may not be used at areas operated by other agencies even if those areas may be located on USACE-owned property. Camping fees are not included. Pass valid for one year. Valid through month and year shown on the pass. Sold only at USACE projects, please call ahead to ensure the office is open to the public.

Federal Interagency Pass Information

Approximately 240 USACE recreation projects nationwide began issuing America the Beautiful National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Interagency Passes on Jan. 1, 2016. These include:

1) Interagency Senior Pass, $80, valid for lifetime of the pass owner and available to U.S. citizens and permanent residents age 62 or older. 

2) Interagency Senior Annual Pass $20, valid one year from month of purchase, available to U.S. citizens or permanent residents 62 or older, the Senior Annual Pass can be upgraded to the Lifetime Senior Pass by exchanging four previously purchased Senior Annual Passes or paying the difference between the purchase of one to three Senior Annual Passes to equal the value of the Senior Lifetime Pass, $80. 

3) Access Pass, free for lifetime with documentation of permanent disability for U.S. citizens or permanent residents. *Documentation required.

4) Interagency Annual Pass, $80, anyone can purchase this pass.

5) Interagency Military Pass, free to current U.S. military members and their dependents. *Documentation required.

6)  Interagency Every Kid in a Park 4th Grade Pass, free to current 4th grade students with valid Every Kid in a Park voucher (visit: https://everykidoutdoors.gov/ for details).

7) Interagency Volunteer Pass, earned with 250-plus hours of volunteer service on public lands. 

8) Interagency Military Lifetime Pass, free to gold star families and veterans. *Documentation required. 

These passes allow their holders free access to boat launches and swimming beaches managed by USACE. Senior and Access America the Beautiful passes also provide holders a 50 percent discount on campsites at USACE-managed campgrounds. Additionally, USACE will continue to sell its own annual day use pass for $40, which allows visitors free access to boat launches and swimming beaches managed by USACE. 

All America the Beautiful passes can be purchased online at http://store.usgs.gov/. There is an additional $10 processing fee for online purchases. They can also be obtained in person at many locations which can be found at https://www.nps.gov/ Please call ahead to ensure the office is open to the public and to ensure pass availability.

Pomona Lake Brochure

Pomona Lake Map

Pomona Lake Interactive Hunting Map

Carbolyn Park Map

Cedar Park Map

Michigan Valley Park Map

Outlet Park Map

Wolf Creek Park Map

Rules & Regulations

 The Corps has paved boat ramps at the following locations: Management Park, North Shore Marina, Adams Grove, 110–Mile Park, Carbolyn Park and the Dragoon Access area. The Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism operates several boat ramps within the Pomona State Park. An unimproved launch is located in Cedar Park. Day use fees are collected at Management and Adams Grove.

Michigan Valley Park

Campsite fees are $26.00 sewer hookups, $24.00 prime, $22.00 electric and $14.00 for primitive. The campground is located adjacent to Pomona Dam on the north side of the lake. If you are looking for a campground where there is something for every member of the family, then Michigan Valley Park is the place. This park offers 51 sites with water and electric hookups and 25 primitive sites. All sites with electrical utilities also have water. There are nine sites with sewer hook-ups and eight prime sites offering pull through access - 50-amp electrical service and 13 sites with 30-amp electrical service.  All campsites have a picnic table, fire ring and lantern holder. The campground has a swim beach and nice shoreline views of Pomona Lake. All campsites are within easy walking distance of lakeshore fishing. The campground includes two shower buildings, dump station, two reservable group picnic shelters playgrounds, a basketball court and an accessible fishing dock near B loop. All sites and shelters are reservable except for those on F-loop, which are on a first come first serve basis. Sites are available from May 1 through September 30.

Wolf Creek Park

Campsite fees are $22.00 per night for electric and $14.00 per night for non-electric sites from May -September. The campground is located a few miles west of Pomona Dam Road on the north side of the lake. The facilities include 36 electric and 16 primitive sites, shower house, reservable group camp with 23 electric and water sites, playground and a dump station and 18-hole disk golf course. Sites are available from May 1 through September 15.

Wolf Creek Group Camp

By reservation only for $175.00 per night. The group camp has 23 sites with 50-amp electric and water. There is a large picnic shelter adjacent to the group camp area and a new shower/restroom  facility. This area is reservable from April 1 through September 15.

Outlet Park

Campsite fees are $22.00 per night with electric and water. The campground is located below the dam on the south side of the lake. The park offers 36 electric and water sites. The campground includes a shower house, dump station, playgrounds and two reservable picnic shelters, Outlet number 2, and Management number 1. The Management shelter has recently been improved with a new restroom facility. All sites and shelters are reservable from April 1 through October 31.

Carbolyn Park

Campsite fees are $20.00 per night from May - September. The campground is located on the west side of the lake just off U.S. Hwy 75. The campground has a total of 27 sites. Sites 21 - 28 offer electric only. Carbolyn Park offers a boat ramp, dump station, a new shower building and a playground. All sites must be reserved online or by phone from 1 May until 30 September.

Fishing at Pomona Lake

Interactive Hunting Map

Pomona Lake Marina

Picnic Shelter Reservations/Availability

Bloomington East Shelters

Shelter 3: Shelter is available May 1st to September 30th daily from 9:00 am to 10:00 pm. Shelter may be reserved for parties of up to 100 guest Friday-Sunday for $35. This shelter provides electricity, water, a large grill for cooking, parking, numerous picnic tables, restrooms, sand volleyball pits, playground equipment as well as close proximity to a disc golf course and walking distance to the swimming beach that includes a shower house. Reserve Shelter 3. 

Shelter 4:  Shelter is available May 1st to September 30th daily from 9:00 am to 10:00 pm. Shelter may be reserved for parties of up to 100 guest Friday-Sunday for $35. This shelter provides electricity, water, a large grill for cooking, parking, numerous picnic tables, restrooms, sand volleyball pits, playground equipment as well as close proximity to a disc golf course and walking distance to the swimming beach that includes a shower house. Reserve Shelter 4. 

Shelter 5: Shelter is available May 1st to September 30th daily from 9:00 am to 10:00 pm. Shelter may be reserved for parties of up to 100 guest Friday-Sunday for $35. This shelter provides electricity, water, a large grill for cooking, parking, numerous picnic tables, restrooms, sand volleyball pits, playground equipment as well as close proximity to a disc golf course and walking distance to the swimming beach that includes a shower house. Reserve Shelter 5.

Shelter 6: Shelter is available May 1st to September 30th daily from 9:00 am to 10:00 pm. Shelter may be reserved for parties of up to 100 guest Friday-Sunday for $35. This shelter provides electricity, a large grill for cooking, parking, numerous picnic tables, restrooms, sand volleyball pits, playground equipment as well as close proximity to a disc golf course and walking distance to the swimming beach that includes a shower house. Reserve Shelter 6.

Overlook Park Shelters

Shelter 1: Shelter is available from April 1st - September 30th from 9:00 am-10:00 pm. Shelter can be reserved Monday-Friday for $35 and can accommodate parties of up to 100 people.  This shelter provides electricity, water, a large grill for cooking, a large fireplace, abundant parking, numerous picnic tables, restrooms, sand volleyball pits, horseshoes, playground equipment as well as close proximity to a softball field, hiking trails and the lake. This shelter has a scenic view of the lake. Reserve Shelter 1. 

Shelter 2: Shelter is available from April 1st - September 30th from 9:00 am-10:00 pm. Shelter can be reserved Monday-Friday for $35 and can accommodate parties of up to 100 people.  This shelter provides electricity, water, a large grill for cooking, a large fireplace, abundant parking, numerous picnic tables, restrooms, sand volleyball pits, horseshoes, playground equipment as well as close proximity to a softball field, hiking trails and the lake. This shelter has a scenic view of the lake. Reserve Shelter 2. 

Partner Agency Picnic Shelter Reservation/Availability

City of Lawrence Picnic Shelters

Clinton State Park Picnic Shelters

Contact the Pomona Lake project office at 785-453-2201 for more information about our trails. 

Pomona Lake is a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers operated multi-purpose use reservoir located in Osage County near Lawrence, Kansas on the Hundred and Ten Mile Creek River in the Lower Kansas River Basin. The Flood Control Act of 1954 authorized Pomona reservoir for flood control, water supply, water quality, recreation and fish and wildlife use and has a 322 square mile drainage area. Pomona Lake is part of the Osage River Basin along with Hillsdale Lake, Melvern Lake, Stockton Lake, Pomme de Terre Lake and Harry S. Truman Lake. Together, these lakes function as a system to play a vital role in managing water resources. USACE is authorized to operate Pomona Lake using the current Water Control Manual that was prepared by the Kansas City District and is dated December 1972.

Congress provided direction and funding in Fiscal Year 2022 for USACE districts across the nation to update Water Control Manuals, or WCMs to evaluate whether any changes in physical, social and environmental conditions around the dam warrant updating the WCP, include a drought contingency plan and meet new requirements for formatting and updating information.

WHAT IS A WATER CONTROL MANUAL?

Water Control Manuals, or WCMs, are operating manuals for U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, or USACE, dams. USACE makes day to day decisions about releasing water through its dams according to Water Control Plans, or WCPs, that are included in dam specific-WCMs. The objective of all WCMs include operating the dam and reservoir for the purposes authorized by Congress and other applicable law, maintain the structural integrity and operation integrity of the dam (sometimes called a “project” to include reservoir operations) and avoid risk to public health and safety, life and property.

The WCMs are being updated because Congress provided direction and funding in Fiscal Year 2022 for USACE districts across the nation to update WCMs to evaluate and potentially update WCPs as necessary, include a drought contingency plan for managing water releases from dams when there is a drought and meet new requirements for formatting and updating information. Each WCM and its WCP was developed when each project was authorized. They are updated periodically to determine whether there are changes in the physical, environmental and social conditions that need to be accounted for in a dam’s operation.  

NEPA PROCESS

The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) is a law that requires all federal agencies to take a 'hard look' at how their actions may affect the human and natural environment. It spells out the steps an agency must take to identify environmental issues that need to be considered, identify options or alternatives that would correct the problems identified and explain its final decision while complying with environmental regulations. NEPA also gives the public a voice in the decision-making process about the proposed actions. The public is asked to provide input through public meetings and opportunities to provide written comments. The first opportunity happens during the scoping phase. Additional opportunities occur when the environmental review is complete and alternatives for action identified. These comments will be considered before the federal agency makes a final decision. 

Did you miss a public meeting? No problem! Click the presentation below to review the slideshow from previous public meetings. 

March 14, 2024, Pomona Public Meeting Slides 

Pomona Lake Value to the Nation

ArcGIS StoryMaps is a web-based application designed to create interactive narratives by combining maps, multimedia content, and text to communicate stories in a visually engaging way. Developed by Esri, it allows users to transform geographic information system (GIS) work into compelling digital stories and presentations.

The primary purpose of ArcGIS StoryMaps is to help users effectively convey messages, educate audiences, and engage stakeholders through location-based narratives.

Click this link to learn and interact with the Water Control Manuals Update!

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Hours of Operation

Visitor Center Hours

Monday thru Friday 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Fees

Michigan Valley

A1-A8 - $20.00/night

A12-A19 - $22.00/night

A23-A31 - $24.00/night

All C and G Loops - $18.00/night

B, D, E and F Loops - $14.00/night

Wigger Group Camp - $40.00/night

Shelter #3 - $30.00/day

Shelter #4 - $60.00/day

Shelter #5 - $40.00/day

Wolf Creek Park

A1-A32 - $20.00/night

D1-D13 - $20.00/night

B, C, & E Loops - $14.00/night

Group Camp - $150.00/night

Outlet Park

Sites 1-34 - $20.00/night

Shelters 1&2 - $30.00/day

Rules and Regulations

Pomona Lake is regulated by Title 36 CFR 327 governing public use of U.S. Army Corps of Engineers water resources development projects. For a list of all rules and regulations please reference this link.

***America The Beautiful Passes are sold by appointment only***  To schedule an appointment, call 785-453-2201.  Cash or check only.  Must bring ID. Available passes include, America the Beautiful Annual, Access, Senior Lifetime, Senior Annual, Veteran and Uniformed Military.

Recreation.gov

America the Beautiful Passes

Pomona State Park

Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism

Kansas City District Dam Safety Program

Kansas City District Water Management

Kansas City District Water Quality Program