| Melvern Lake | |
| Image Bathymetry: | Map of Osage Co, Ks, USA.png |
| Caption Bathymetry: | KDOT map of Osage County (legend) |
| Location: | Osage County |
| Coords: | 38.4896°N -95.7993°W |
| Type: | Reservoir |
| Inflow: | Marais des Cygnes River |
| Basin Countries: | United States |
| Agency: | U.S. Army Corps of Engineers |
| Date-Built: | 1970 |
| Area: | 10.8sqmi |
| Volume: | 363000acre feet Max 154000acre feet Normal |
| Elevation: | 315m (1,033feet) |
| Cities: | Melvern, Olivet, Lyndon, Lebo |
| Pushpin Map: | Kansas#USA |
| Pushpin Map Alt: | Location of Melvern Lake in Kansas, USA. |
| Reference: | [1] |
Melvern Dam is a dam in Osage County, Kansas.
The earthen dam was completed in 1970, and the reservoir completely filled in 1975, as a flood control project of the United States Army Corps of Engineers.[2] The dam impounds the Marais des Cygnes River, notorious for its destructive flooding, notably in the Great Flood of 1951. The dam is high, is long at its crest, and is owned and operated by the United States Army Corps of Engineers.
The reservoir it creates, Melvern Lake, has a water surface of and a maximum capacity of 363000acre feet, although normal storage is 154000acre feet.[3] Recreation includes fishing, hunting, boating and camping in the five parks surrounding the lake (Outlet Park, Arrow Rock Park, Coeur d'Alene Park, Turkey Point Park, and Sun Dance Park)[4] and the adjoining state park, Eisenhower State Park.