Spillway

Source: Nemaha County Courier Tribune

Seneca, KS

November 12, 1934

After more than a year of almost ceaseless negotiation and efforts of Nemaha county people to create a beautiful lake and park were being crowned with success. The entire project faces a prospect of being irreparably lessened in value by a decision of the Forestry, Fish and Game commission to lower the depth of water at the dam to 15 feet.

The decision to lower the water five feet below the original plan was made necessary, the commission's engineers explained, from the fact that 20 feet of water at the dam, or even 18 feet, would back up on privately owned property south of the township road. Fear of litigation which might occur caused the decision. County commissioners, lake park workers, engineers and surveyors join in an expression of dissatisfaction. When depth of the water is lessened, acreage of the lake shrinks alarmingly. If the plan to set the spillway level at 15 feet is followed up, the lake probably will not contain more that 225 acres of water. More than that, the public will be greatly disappointed in depths over a large area of it. For example, it would be possible to wade in a considerable area of the main body which lies just south of the CCC camp. In drought like that of this year, great sections of the lake would go dry. Water evaporates in proportion to its depth while the park is being ruined.

The lake-park now stands at its most critical stage but no one has given up hope. It is felt there is no problem connected with the park that cannot be met once there is a determination to save the lake as it was originally designed. That determination is in evidence and definite action will be taken.

We would like to give special thanks to the Courier Tribune, Seneca, Kansas for granting permission to web publish this article.