All but one boat ramp at Clinton Lake in addition to Bloomington Beach, where a young man died Saturday, are closed while crews balance high waters.
“Higher water pools here mean reduced recreational opportunities as closures happen – but it’s flood damage reduction that becomes the most important mission locally,” said Hunter Young, natural resource specialist with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Clinton Lake Project.
After his friends reported seeing him struggle while swimming, Cesar Cardenas Olivas, 23, of Topeka, was found dead in the water at Clinton Lake on Saturday evening. The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office Underwater Search and Recovery team recovered his body off of Bloomington Beach.
To safely enjoy the lake, Young said the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers recommends always wearing life jackets and staying vigilant. Bloomington Beach has a kiosk offering free life jackets.
Taking boater safety courses, reading watercraft safety manuals, knowing the state park rules and regulations, and being mindful of barriers and closures can help with preparedness, Young said.
The Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks gives some information about swimming at the beach, telling people to wear foot protection, to never swim alone or at night, and to heed harmful algae. It also says beaches are subject to wave action and erosion, so folks should watch their footing.
“Swimming at a beach is much different than swimming in a pool because the water may be murky and harbor floating or submerged debris, the bottom may be uneven and there may be wind and waves,” the website says.
Boat Ramp 7 is the only ramp open as of Tuesday. Bloomington Beach and boat ramps 4, 5 and 6 are closed as they’re still feeling the impacts of the heavy rain. Young said the areas will be reopened once they’re cleaned and deemed safe.
The corps is responsible for managing Clinton Lake and surrounding land. Lawrence doesn’t experience major concerns of high rises thanks to the functionality of Clinton Dam, Young said. Water that enters the watershed drains to the lake, which can store or release it. But flooding at the beginning of the month, as well as recent rains, have resulted in flooding in the lake.
“The dam itself rises 85 feet above the valley, and (is) part of a system of dams designed to reduce impact of flood events on the Kansas, Missouri and Mississippi Rivers,” Young said via email. “A recent example is the large amounts of local rain we recently had. Clinton has held that rain as a higher pool of water than normal but prevented flooding of downstream areas.”
Crews are releasing 2,500 cfs, or cubic feet per second, of water through the dam’s gates, Young said.
See updates on closures, openings and other information on the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Clinton Lake Project’s Facebook page, facebook.com/ClintonLakeUSACE. Direct message the Facebook page or call the information center, 785-843-7665, for questions.
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Maya Hodison (she/her), equity reporter, can be reached at mhodison (at) lawrencekstimes (dot) com. Read more of her work for the Times here. Check out her staff bio here.
