Lexington Lake Park (Rieke Lake Dam) dam
Lexington Lake Park (Rieke Lake Dam)
Lexington Lake Park (Rieke Lake Dam) in De Soto, Kansas, is a private earth dam managed by the USDA NRCS with a primary purpose of recreation. Located along the Kansas River, the dam stands at a height of 53 feet, with a hydraulic height of 51 feet and a length of 850 feet. The reservoir behind the dam has a normal storage capacity of 364.5 acre-feet and a maximum storage capacity of 504.6 acre-feet, covering a surface area of 26.7 acres.
The dam is state-regulated by the Kansas Department of Agriculture, with regular inspections conducted to ensure its safety and integrity. With a hazard potential rated as high but a moderate risk assessment, the dam provides both recreational opportunities and essential water resource management for the area. Although the dam is not under the jurisdiction of the USACE, its design and construction by the NRCS reflect a commitment to sustainable water resource management and climate resilience in the region.
Visitors to Lexington Lake Park can enjoy fishing, boating, and other recreational activities while appreciating the role of the dam in providing water storage and flood control along the Kansas River. The dam's uncontrolled spillway and lack of outlet gates indicate a design focused on natural flow management, enhancing the ecological value of the reservoir and surrounding wildlife habitat. With its picturesque setting and important water resource functions, Lexington Lake Park is a must-visit destination for water resource and climate enthusiasts seeking to explore the intersection of nature and infrastructure in Johnson County, Kansas.
Dam data reference
Condition Assessment
- Satisfactory
- No existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. Acceptable performance is expected under all loading conditions (static, hydrologic, seismic) in accordance with the minimum applicable state or federal regulatory criteria or tolerable risk guidelines.
- Fair
- No existing dam safety deficiencies are recognized for normal operating conditions. Rare or extreme hydrologic and/or seismic events may result in a dam safety deficiency. Risk may be in the range to take further action.
- Poor
- A dam safety deficiency is recognized for normal operating conditions which may realistically occur. Remedial action is necessary. POOR may also be used when uncertainties exist as to critical analysis parameters which identify a potential dam safety deficiency.
- Unsatisfactory
- A dam safety deficiency is recognized that requires immediate or emergency remedial action for problem resolution.
- Not Rated
- The dam has not been inspected, is not under state or federal jurisdiction, or has been inspected but, for whatever reason, has not been rated.
Hazard Potential Classification
- High
- Dams assigned the high hazard potential classification are those where failure or mis-operation will probably cause loss of human life.
- Significant
- Dams assigned the significant hazard potential classification are those dams where failure or mis-operation results in no probable loss of human life but can cause economic loss, environmental damage, disruption of lifeline facilities, or impact other concerns. Significant hazard potential classification dams are often located in predominantly rural or agricultural areas but could be in areas with population and significant infrastructure.
- Low
- Dams assigned the low hazard potential classification are those where failure or mis-operation results in no probable loss of human life and low economic and/or environmental losses. Losses are principally limited to the owner's property.
- Undetermined
- Dams for which a downstream hazard potential has not been designated or is not provided.
Plan around the weather
Same NOAA / yr.no feed Snoflo's iOS app uses. Watch the precipitation column on the meteogram -- rain on the basin upstream typically lifts inflow 24-72 hours later.
Next 5 days, hour by hour
Temperature line with weather symbols on top, snow + rain accumulation as columns, humidity as a dotted line.
5-day forecast table
Every 3 hours, broken out across temperature, snow, rain, humidity, and wind. Each cell is colour-coded relative to the column min/max.
| Time | Condition | Temp (°F) | Snow (in) | Rain (in) | Humidity (%) | Wind (mps) | Wind dir |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loading detailed forecast… | |||||||
15-day temperature & precipitation
Daily temperatures, snow, and rain projected over the next two weeks.
Nearby streamflow gauges
USGS streamgauges around Lexington Lake Park (Rieke Lake Dam) -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Kill C At 95 St Nr Desoto | 34 cfs | → |
| Kansas R At Desoto | 9,930 cfs | → |
| Cedar C Nr Desoto | 67 cfs | → |
| Stranger C Nr Tonganoxie | 990 cfs | → |
| Mill C At Johnson Drive | 51 cfs | → |
| Wakarusa R Nr Lawrence | 28 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Lexington Lake Park (Rieke Lake Dam).
Track Lexington Lake Park (Rieke Lake Dam) in the Snoflo app
Save this dam as a favorite and get the local NOAA / yr.no forecast plus regional flow context wherever you are.
About Lexington Lake Park (Rieke Lake Dam)
Where does the data for Lexington Lake Park (Rieke Lake Dam) come from?
Structural and regulatory data come from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' National Inventory of Dams (NID). Weather forecast comes from NOAA / yr.no -- the same feed Snoflo's iOS app uses.
How often is the report updated?
NID structural data refreshes annually as the Corps publishes updated assessments. The weather forecast refreshes throughout the day.
What does the High hazard rating mean?
The Corps of Engineers' hazard potential classification grades probable consequences if the dam fails: High = probable loss of human life; Significant = no probable loss of human life but possible economic loss / environmental damage; Low = no probable loss of human life, only minor economic / environmental losses. See the Dam Data Reference card above for the full definitions.
What's "% of normal"?
The current storage value compared to the historical average storage on this calendar day. 100% = right on average; values above 100% mean above-normal storage (wet year); values below mean below-normal (dry year or drought).
Can I get alerts when storage crosses a threshold?
Yes -- alerts are managed in the Snoflo iOS app. Favorite this dam, set a threshold, and you'll get a push the moment conditions cross.
Other water bodies near here
Snoflo-tracked reservoirs and dams within driving distance of Lexington Lake Park (Rieke Lake Dam).