John Redmond Dam and Reservoir
Encyclopedia
John Redmond Reservoir is on the Neosho River
4 miles (8 km) north of Burlington, Kansas
and 1 miles (1.6 km) west of New Strawn, Kansas
, in the Osage Prairie
region of southeast Kansas
. It was built and is operated by the Army Corps of Engineers originally for the purpose of flood
control.
The lake is bordered by John Redmond Wildlife Area, which features recreational areas, including nature trails, camping sites, and artificial playgrounds.
(to the south) and Hartford
(to the north) on the site of the now submerged Strawn, Kansas. The town of New Strawn is now on the East side of the reservoir.
, which inundated downtown Burlington
and Strawn where some locations had floodwater 30 feet (9.1 m) deep.
Originally the project was authorized by Congress under the Flood Control Act of 1950 and called Strawn Dam in reference to Strawn, the town located where the reservoir is today. However, in 1958 the project was renamed "John Redmond Dam and Reservoir" in honor of the publisher of the Burlington Daily Republican and a beloved Kansan who trained under William Allen White
. Redmond had been a longtime champion for flood control and water conservation along the Neosho River which had started to become a reality with the authorization of four dams in 1950, including this one.
The towns of Strawn and Ottumwa was relocated six miles (10 km) to the east on higher ground and named New Strawn
at the time the dam was constructed. The entire design and construction was done by the Tulsa District Corps of Engineers
at $29,264,000. The dam began to undergo construction on June 18, 1959 and went into service on November 17, 1964 several weeks before final completion to protect the Neosho River Valley from the expected winter and spring floods.
The value of the dam was proven during the Great Flood of 1993
, when floodwaters reaching up to the top of the release gates. However, when the dam reached capacity in July 1993, it necessitated the first release of the spillway
.
Neosho River
The Neosho River is a tributary of the Arkansas River in eastern Kansas and northeastern Oklahoma in the United States. Its tributaries also drain portions of Missouri and Arkansas. The river is about long. Via the Arkansas, it is part of the Mississippi River watershed.- Course :The Neosho's...
4 miles (8 km) north of Burlington, Kansas
Burlington, Kansas
Burlington is a city in and the county seat of Coffey County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 2,674.-Geography:Burlington is located at...
and 1 miles (1.6 km) west of New Strawn, Kansas
New Strawn, Kansas
New Strawn is a city in Coffey County, Kansas, United States. The population was 425 at the 2000 census.-History:The town of New Strawn came about when John Redmond Reservoir was built, causing the original town of Strawn to be claimed by the Army Corp of Engineers for flood area...
, in the Osage Prairie
Osage Hills
The Osage Hills are a small range of hills in Oklahoma, commonly known as The Osage, refers to the broad rolling hills and rolling tallgrass prairie and Cross Timbers encompassing Osage County and surrounding areas, including portions of Mayes, Tulsa and Washington Counties.-The Osage:The Osage...
region of southeast Kansas
Kansas
Kansas is a US state located in the Midwestern United States. It is named after the Kansas River which flows through it, which in turn was named after the Kansa Native American tribe, which inhabited the area. The tribe's name is often said to mean "people of the wind" or "people of the south...
. It was built and is operated by the Army Corps of Engineers originally for the purpose of flood
Flood
A flood is an overflow of an expanse of water that submerges land. The EU Floods directive defines a flood as a temporary covering by water of land not normally covered by water...
control.
The lake is bordered by John Redmond Wildlife Area, which features recreational areas, including nature trails, camping sites, and artificial playgrounds.
Geography
The John Redmond Wildlife Area is located on the Neosho River between BurlingtonBurlington, Kansas
Burlington is a city in and the county seat of Coffey County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 2,674.-Geography:Burlington is located at...
(to the south) and Hartford
Hartford, Kansas
Hartford is a city in Lyon County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 371. It is part of the Emporia Micropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Hartford is located at...
(to the north) on the site of the now submerged Strawn, Kansas. The town of New Strawn is now on the East side of the reservoir.
History
The Neosho Valley flooded over 45 times in the 30 years leading up to 1950 when Congress would authorized the project for what was to be "Strawn Dam." Ironically, it was authorized and awaiting construction during the Great Flood of 1951Great Flood of 1951
In mid-July 1951, heavy rains led to a great rise of water in the Kansas River and other surrounding areas. Flooding resulted in the Kansas, Neosho, Marais Des Cygnes, and Verdigris river basins. The damage in June and July 1951 exceeded $935 million dollars in an area covering eastern Kansas and...
, which inundated downtown Burlington
Burlington, Kansas
Burlington is a city in and the county seat of Coffey County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 2,674.-Geography:Burlington is located at...
and Strawn where some locations had floodwater 30 feet (9.1 m) deep.
Originally the project was authorized by Congress under the Flood Control Act of 1950 and called Strawn Dam in reference to Strawn, the town located where the reservoir is today. However, in 1958 the project was renamed "John Redmond Dam and Reservoir" in honor of the publisher of the Burlington Daily Republican and a beloved Kansan who trained under William Allen White
William Allen White
William Allen White was a renowned American newspaper editor, politician, author, and leader of the Progressive movement...
. Redmond had been a longtime champion for flood control and water conservation along the Neosho River which had started to become a reality with the authorization of four dams in 1950, including this one.
The towns of Strawn and Ottumwa was relocated six miles (10 km) to the east on higher ground and named New Strawn
New Strawn, Kansas
New Strawn is a city in Coffey County, Kansas, United States. The population was 425 at the 2000 census.-History:The town of New Strawn came about when John Redmond Reservoir was built, causing the original town of Strawn to be claimed by the Army Corp of Engineers for flood area...
at the time the dam was constructed. The entire design and construction was done by the Tulsa District Corps of Engineers
United States Army Corps of Engineers
The United States Army Corps of Engineers is a federal agency and a major Army command made up of some 38,000 civilian and military personnel, making it the world's largest public engineering, design and construction management agency...
at $29,264,000. The dam began to undergo construction on June 18, 1959 and went into service on November 17, 1964 several weeks before final completion to protect the Neosho River Valley from the expected winter and spring floods.
The value of the dam was proven during the Great Flood of 1993
Great Flood of 1993
The Great Mississippi and Missouri Rivers Flood of 1993 occurred in the American Midwest, along the Mississippi and Missouri rivers and their tributaries, from April to October 1993. The flood was among the most costly and devastating to ever occur in the United States, with $15 billion in damages...
, when floodwaters reaching up to the top of the release gates. However, when the dam reached capacity in July 1993, it necessitated the first release of the spillway
Spillway
A spillway is a structure used to provide the controlled release of flows from a dam or levee into a downstream area, typically being the river that was dammed. In the UK they may be known as overflow channels. Spillways release floods so that the water does not overtop and damage or even destroy...
.