Overview
Perry Lake is an approximately 11,150-acre Corps of Engineers reservoir on the Delaware River in Jefferson County, northeast Kansas, northwest of Lawrence. The Kansas City District operates the project for flood risk management, water supply, water quality, fish and wildlife, recreation, and related Kansas River basin purposes. Perry controls about 1,100 square miles of Delaware River drainage in comparatively humid northeast Kansas.
More than 160 miles of shoreline frame a lake with maximum depth near 43 feet. Wooded arms, points, and large blocks of public land characterize this popular Topeka-Lawrence-Kansas City day-trip water. Flood-control pool acreage is much larger than the multipurpose pool, so big storms transform the shoreline.
Walleye, bass, crappie, and catfish fisheries are managed by the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks. Corps parks, campgrounds, and ramps provide extensive access. Proximity to Topeka, Lawrence, and Kansas City makes Perry a high-use weekend fishery and camping lake.
Multipurpose pool is about 891-892 feet NGVD29, with a large flood-control pool above. Levels respond to Delaware River runoff and coordinated Kansas River system operations with Milford and other district lakes - monitor current lake levels for ramps and fishing. Navigation support on the Kansas/Missouri system is an authorized (rarely exercised) purpose shared with sister lakes.
Current Conditions
Perry Lake is currently 2.18 feet above full pool and has fallen slightly over the past week.
- 7-day trendFallingLatest movement can differ from the seven-day trend.
- 7-day changeDown 0.14 ft
- 30-day changeDown 0.19 ft
- Drought conditionsNo Drought
- Active advisories2 active (Advisory)
About This Lake
Learn how this lake is managed, what affects its water level, and where Lake Insights gets its data.
Perry Lake is a 11,150-acre reservoir on the Delaware River managed by U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Kansas City District).