You’re driving through the Flint Hills, or maybe you're cutting across the flat expanses of Eastern Kansas, and the horizon suddenly breaks. Water. A lot of it. That’s John Redmond Lake. It sits there, about two miles north of Burlington in Coffey County, looking like any other massive body of water in the Midwest. But it’s not. It’s actually a bit of a miracle of engineering and, honestly, a massive headache for the state’s environmental planners.
Most people just see a place to park their camper or launch a bass boat. I see a complex ecosystem that provides cooling water for the Wolf Creek Generating Station, which is basically the heartbeat of Kansas’s nuclear power. If John Redmond Lake fails, the lights don't just go out; the math for the entire region's power grid starts to look really ugly.
The Real Story Behind John Redmond Reservoir
Construction finished around 1964. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers built it primarily for flood control along the Neosho River. It was named after John Redmond, a local newspaper editor who spent decades lobbying for water conservation. He never actually got to see the finished product, which is a bit of a tragic irony.
The lake is shallow. If you’ve spent any time on it, you know that. The average depth is barely over six feet in many spots, though it can drop to twelve or fifteen near the dam. Because it’s so shallow, the wind in Kansas—which we all know never stops—whips up the silt constantly. This isn't the crystal-clear water of the Ozarks. It’s coffee-colored, nutrient-rich, and incredibly productive for fish.
But there’s a problem that nobody likes to talk about: sedimentation. Since the 60s, the lake has been filling up with mud. It’s lost roughly 40% of its original storage capacity. Think about that. Nearly half the lake is gone, replaced by silt washed down from upstream farms and eroded banks. In 2016, the state of Kansas actually did something radical. They started the first-ever large-scale lake dredging project in the state's history here. It cost millions. They sucked up 1.5 million cubic yards of mud just to try and buy the reservoir more time.
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The Otter Creek Legacy
One of the coolest parts of the John Redmond Lake area isn't the water itself, but the land surrounding it. You've got the Otter Creek Wildlife Area and the Flint Hills National Wildlife Refuge. This isn't just "extra space." It’s a massive 18,463-acre sanctuary.
If you go there in late fall, the sky turns grey with Mallards and Canada Geese. It’s a major stopover on the Central Flyway. Honestly, if you're into birdwatching or even just quiet hiking, the refuge is actually better than the lake. You’ll see bobcats if you’re quiet. You’ll definitely see white-tailed deer. The mix of flooded timber, wetlands, and tallgrass prairie is exactly what Kansas used to look like before we paved over everything.
Fishing John Redmond Lake: What You’re Actually Catching
If you're coming here with a rod and reel, you're probably looking for White Bass or Channel Catfish. This is a "catfish lake." The turbidity—that's the fancy word for the muddiness—actually helps the catfish. They hunt by scent and vibration, so they don't care if they can't see two inches in front of their faces.
- Channel Catfish: They are everywhere. Use shad sides or stink bait near the old river channel.
- White Bass: In the spring, they run up the Neosho River and the Fall River. It's a feeding frenzy.
- Crappie: Look for the brush piles. The Corps and local anglers have dropped a lot of cedar trees into the water to create habitat.
- Bluegill: Great for kids near the dam or the heated discharge areas.
The "hot water" aspect is something unique. Because Wolf Creek uses the lake for cooling, there are sections where the water temperature stays elevated. This can lead to some weird fishing patterns. Sometimes the fish are active in the middle of January when they should be dormant. It’s a strange, man-made microclimate.
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Camping and Practical Stuff
Don't just show up and expect a five-star resort. This is rugged Kansas camping.
Riverside West and Dam Site Park are the main spots. Dam Site is popular because it has the amenities—electric hookups, showers, the stuff that makes "roughing it" actually tolerable for a weekend. If you want something quieter, head to the Otter Creek side.
One thing you’ve got to watch out for is the wind. I’ve seen tents literally tumbleweed across the park because someone didn't use heavy-duty stakes. It’s the Flint Hills. The wind comes off the prairie and hits that flat water like a freight train. Always check the NOAA weather radio before you head out.
The Algae Issue
We have to talk about the Blue-Green Algae. It’s a recurring nightmare at John Redmond Lake. Because the lake is shallow and collects runoff from agricultural land, it gets hit with high phosphorus and nitrogen levels. When the Kansas sun bakes that water in July and August, the algae blooms.
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It’s toxic. Not just "oh, my skin itches" toxic, but "this will kill your dog if they drink it" toxic. The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) frequently issues public health advisories. Before you load the boat, check the current status. If the water looks like spilled pea soup or green paint, stay out. It’s not worth the risk.
Why John Redmond Matters for the Future
This lake is a bellwether for how we manage water in the Midwest. We can't just build a reservoir and walk away. The dredging project I mentioned earlier? That was a stopgap.
The real work is happening upstream. Conservationists are working with farmers to plant cover crops and build riparian buffers. The goal is to stop the dirt from reaching the lake in the first place. If we don't solve the sedimentation issue, John Redmond Lake KS will eventually just be a massive, swampy marsh.
For the people in Burlington and the workers at Wolf Creek, this isn't an academic problem. It’s a survival problem. The lake provides the backup water supply for the nuclear plant. No water, no cooling. No cooling, no plant.
Actionable Steps for Your Visit
- Check Water Levels: The Neosho River can flash flood. Check the USGS gauge for Burlington before you go. If the lake is high, the debris in the water makes boating dangerous.
- Verify Algae Status: Visit the KDHE "Harmful Algal Blooms" page. They update it every Thursday during the summer.
- Explore the Refuge: Don't just stay on the boat ramp. Drive the auto-tour loop at the Flint Hills National Wildlife Refuge. It’s one of the best spots in the state for photography.
- Gear Up for Wind: If you're kayaking, stay near the shoreline. Getting caught in the middle of John Redmond when a 20mph south wind kicks up is a recipe for a very bad day.
- Respect the Dam: The area immediately below the dam is great for fishing, but the sirens are there for a reason. When they release water, it happens fast.
John Redmond isn't the "prettiest" lake in Kansas—places like Wilson or Clinton usually take that title—but it is arguably the hardest working. It’s a place of utility, grit, and surprisingly deep natural beauty if you know where to look. Take the time to see the eagles in the winter. Listen to the wind through the prairie grass. Just make sure you're prepared for the mud.