Newest reservoirs in Kansas
The year that a reservoir was first filled to the reservoir’s normal elevation – or the year that a natural lake was first dammed – is the determining factor in the age of the body of water. A large reservoir can take more than a year to fill after its dam is first closed. You can find many of the the world’s newest reservoirs on LakeLubbers in the comparison table below. Many of the world’s oldest reservoirs appear on the last page of that list. Note: For some lakes, the completion year data is unknown, so you may see fewer lakes than the total 13 articles we have published for Kansas lakes.Thinking about booking a Kansas lake vacation home rental, cabin or hotel?
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Below are lakes within USA > US Midwest Region > Kansas > Compared by newest (youngest) reservoirs and the year it was completed. This list does not represent all lakes in Kansas, only the 13 Kansas lake articles we have published on the LakeLubbers website.
Lake name  |
Completion year |
Lake description |
|---|---|---|
| Horsethief Reservoir (Kansas, Southwest Kansas, US Midwest Region, USA) |
2010 | Also known as Horse Thief Canyon Reservoir The newest water playground in Southwest Kansas is Horsethief Reservoir. Named for Horsethief Canyon near the dam, the new reservoir provides both flo… |
| Hillsdale Lake, KS (Kansas, Northeast Kansas, US Midwest Region, USA) |
1985 | Also known as Hillsdale Reservoir The boat glides slowly over the tops of the submerged trees. Carefully he stalks them, intent as any predator. It’s early summer on Hillsdale Lake, an… |
| El Dorado Lake, KS (Kansas, South Central Kansas, US Midwest Region, USA) |
1981 | Completed in 1981, South Central Kansas’ El Dorado Lake is an 8,000-acre reservoir bordering the stunning tall grass prairies and rolling mounds of th… |
| Clinton Lake, KS (Kansas, Northeast Kansas, US Midwest Region, USA) |
1980 | Also known as Clinton Reservoir Clinton Lake is a 7,000-acre reservoir located in northeastern Kansas, just south of Interstate 70 near Lawrence (between Topeka and Kansas City). Con… |
| Kaw Lake, KS/OK (Kansas, Oklahoma, Red Carpet Country, OK, South Central Kansas, US Midwest Region, US Southwest Region, USA) |
1972 | Also known as Kaw Reservoir Kaw Lake is a large lake covering an area of 17,000 acres. Its three fingerlike “arms” lie in two midwestern states, Oklahoma and Kansas. Kaw Lake is… |
| Melvern Lake (Kansas, Southeast Kansas, US Midwest Region, USA) |
1972 | Also known as Melvern Resevoir Melvern Lake is the perfect spot in dry southeast Kansas to enjoy a week at the lake. Built in 1972 as a flood control reservoir, Melvern Lake now off… |
| Perry Lake (Kansas, Northeast Kansas, US Midwest Region, USA) |
1969 | Also known as Perry Lake Reservoir Tucked neatly into the northeast region of Kansas about 40 miles west of Kansas City, Perry Lake Reservoir provides tons of fun for those lucky enough… |
| Cheney Reservoir, KS (Kansas, South Central Kansas, US Midwest Region, USA) |
1968 | Also known as Cheney Lake Cheney Reservoir is the premier recreation spot for outdoor activity in south central Kansas. Constructed by the Bureau of Reclamation, it was complet… |
| Glen Elder Reservoir, KS (Kansas, North Central Kansas, US Midwest Region, USA) |
1968 | Also known as Waconda Lake Glen Elder Reservoir, also known as Waconda Lake, is one of the most scenic and popular outdoor attractions in Kansas. Located in north central Kansas… |
| Milford Lake, KS (Kansas, Northeast Kansas, US Midwest Region, USA) |
1967 | Also known as Milford Reservoir Milford Lake is the largest reservoir in Kansas with 163 shoreline miles and 16,000 surface acres. The lake offers abundant recreational opportunities… |
| Wilson Lake, KS (Kansas, North Central Kansas, US Midwest Region, USA) |
1964 | Also known as Wilson Reservoir Nicknamed the “Clearest Lake in Kansas”, Wilson Lake is located in the heart of the Smoky Hills of central Kansas. This reservoir is an unexpected jew… |
| Tuttle Creek Lake, KS (Kansas, Northeast Kansas, US Midwest Region, USA) |
1963 | Also known as Tuttle Creek Reservoir When construction of Tuttle Creek Dam began in 1952, the premise was that Tuttle Creek Lake would be a “dry dam” passing water on through to the river… |