MARC JACOBS
Hutch Post
RENO COUNTY, Kan. — After years of drought and dwindling water levels, Cheney Lake has returned to its full conservation level, thanks to consistent late spring and early summer rains.
As of Sunday afternoon, the reservoir reached 1,421.6 feet—the top of its conservation pool. It marks the first time in more than three years the lake has hit this milestone. The last time Cheney Lake stood at this level was July 14, 2022, 1,109 days ago.
Throughout the spring, lake levels saw steady improvement. On April 28, the lake measured 1,413.61 feet, nearly 8 feet below the conservation threshold. By May 27, it had risen to 1,414.94 feet, and by June 30 it had surged to 1,421.19 feet—just 0.41 feet shy of the top level. By July 25, the reservoir was within 0.31 feet of full.
Cheney Lake serves as a regional hub for fishing, boating, and camping. Its rebound is a welcome sight for outdoor enthusiasts and water managers alike.
The Cheney Lake Watershed spans 633,000 acres across five counties—Reno, Stafford, Pratt, Kingman, and Kiowa—and is primarily fed by the North Fork Ninnescah River. Over 99% of the watershed is used for agriculture, making precipitation a vital component for both water supply and land productivity.
In addition to the North Fork Ninnescah, the reservoir is sustained by several tributaries, including Silver Creek, Goose Creek, Wolf Creek, and Red Rock Creek.
While the conservation level has been restored, the lake remains well below its flood pool capacity, which tops out at 1,429.0 feet. Nonetheless, the rainfall has provided a much-needed boost to water resources in the region.