Nottingham Lake, located in Johnson County, Kansas, is a private water resource regulated by the Kansas Department of Agriculture. This 2.7-acre lake serves multiple purposes, including fire protection, stock maintenance, and small fish pond management. With a dam height of 30 feet and a storage capacity of 34.6 acre-feet, Nottingham Lake offers a critical water source for local fire suppression efforts and agricultural activities.

Despite its relatively small size, Nottingham Lake poses a high hazard potential and undergoes regular inspections to ensure its structural integrity and safety. The dam, primarily composed of earth with buttress core types, was last inspected in April 2020 and was rated in fair condition. The lake's spillway width of 20 feet and lack of outlet gates suggest a straightforward design focused on water storage and management rather than flood control.

Enthusiasts of water resources and climate management will find Nottingham Lake to be an intriguing case study in private water infrastructure. As climate change impacts water availability and usage patterns, the maintenance and regulation of small bodies of water like Nottingham Lake will become increasingly important for ensuring community resilience and resource sustainability.