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Category: Rathbun Lake
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  • Increased fall releases from Rathbun Lake cancelled

    In response to concerns over ongoing levee assessments and repairs along the lower Chariton River and the Missouri River, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Kansas City District will not conduct the previously announced increased releases from Rathbun Lake.

  • Corps of Engineers encourages water safety this Labor Day weekend

    KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Kansas City District, manages 18 lakes throughout Missouri, Kansas, Iowa and Nebraska, and encourages you not to be a statistic this Labor Day weekend and to wear a life jacket while in, on, or around water. “Statistics tell us 89% of all water related fatalities at Corps of Engineers lakes were not wearing life jackets,” says Kyle Ruona, Kansas City District public safety program manager. The Kansas City District urges visitors to be prepared, understand the importance of water safety, to be alert and to expect the unexpected.

  • Corps reopens beaches at Rathbun Lake

    The Kansas City District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers at Rathbun Lake has opened Corps of Engineers’ public designated beaches based on recent algal toxin laboratory results. Data results from Buck Creek and Island View beaches are within the Iowa Department of Natural Resources state beach advisory standards and due to the improved conditions are open.

  • Corps at Rathbun Lake to conduct a fall pulse in late September

    In 2016, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers updated the Chariton River Water Regulation Manual and incorporated new adaptive water management strategies benefiting interests both upstream and downstream of the Rathbun Lake dam. One of the adaptive water management strategies in the new manual allows for a ‘fall pulse’ or increased water release for a short duration from the lake. This fall pulse gives the Corps the ability to increase water in support of downstream wildlife management goals on state and privately owned lands.

  • Notice of confirmed harmful algae bloom at Rathbun Lake

    The Kansas City District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers at Rathbun Lake is actively responding to a potentially toxic blue-green algae bloom with site-specific sampling and temporary beach closures. Algal toxin data from samples collected on August 7, 2019, from Buck Creek and Island View beaches have tested positive for the algal toxin microcystin in concentrations exceeding Iowa Department of Natural Resources state beach advisory threshold of 20 micrograms per liter of microcystin.