{{Use American English|date=July 2025}} {{Infobox body of water |name = Melvern Lake
|image = |caption = |image_bathymetry = Map of Osage Co, Ks, USA.png |caption_bathymetry = KDOT map of Osage County (legend)
|location = Osage County |coords = {{coord|38.4896432|-95.7992600|format=dms|type:waterbody_region:US-KS_source:gnis|display=inline,title}}<ref name="GNIS">{{cite GNIS|479604|Melvern Lake|Jan 17, 2021}}</ref>
|type = Reservoir |inflow = Marais des Cygnes River |outflow = |catchment = |basin_countries = United States |agency = U.S. Army Corps of Engineers |date-built = 1970 |date-flooded =
|length = |width = |area = {{convert|10.8|sqmi|abbr=on}} |depth = |max-depth = |volume = {{convert|363,000|acre feet|km3}} Max {{convert|154,000|acre feet|km3|abbr=on}} Normal |residence_time = |shore = |elevation = {{convert|315|m|order=flip|abbr=on}}<ref name="GNIS"/> |frozen = |islands = |cities = Melvern, Olivet, Lyndon, Lebo <!-- Map --> | pushpin_map = Kansas#USA | pushpin_label_position = | pushpin_map_alt = Location of Melvern Lake in Kansas, USA. | pushpin_map_caption = <!-- Below --> | website = |reference = <ref name=gnis>{{cite GNIS|type=retired|479845|Melvern Dam|Jan 16, 2021}}</ref> }}
'''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.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nwk.usace.army.mil/Locations/District-Lakes/Melvern-Lake/|title = Kansas City District – Melvern Lake}}</ref> The dam impounds the Marais des Cygnes River, notorious for its destructive flooding, notably in the Great Flood of 1951. The dam is {{convert|188|feet}} high, is {{convert|9650|feet}} 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 {{convert|10.8|sqmi}} and a maximum capacity of {{convert|363,000|acre feet|km3}}, although normal storage is {{convert|154,000|acre feet|km3}}.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://findlakes.com/lakin_watershed_dam_4_kansas~ks02402.htm |title=Lakin Watershed Dam 4 |access-date=2012-08-11 |archive-date=2012-10-12 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121012172237/http://findlakes.com/lakin_watershed_dam_4_kansas~ks02402.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref> 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)<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.nwk.usace.army.mil/Portals/29/docs/lakesites/melvern/Melvern-Brochure%5B1%5D.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=2012-08-11 |archive-date=2013-02-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130221075812/http://www.nwk.usace.army.mil/Portals/29/docs/lakesites/melvern/Melvern-Brochure%5B1%5D.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref> and the adjoining state park, Eisenhower State Park.
==See also== * List of Kansas state parks * List of lakes, reservoirs, and dams in Kansas * List of rivers of Kansas
==References== {{Reflist|30em}}
==External links== * [https://web.archive.org/web/20130225104953/http://www.nwk.usace.army.mil/Portals/29/docs/lakesites/melvern/Melvern-LakeMap%5B1%5D.pdf Recreational map of the lake]
{{KS-Reservoirs}}
{{authority control}}
Category:Dams in Kansas Category:Reservoirs in Kansas Category:United States Army Corps of Engineers dams Category:Buildings and structures in Osage County, Kansas Category:Dams completed in 1970 Category:Bodies of water of Osage County, Kansas Category:1970 establishments in Kansas