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Clinton Lake

Kansas · Reservoir impounded 1977 · near Lawrence

7,000 acres 65 ft deep 4 ft clarity Water D
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5.9SCORE
Survey summary · Kansas
7,000
Surface acres
65 ft
Max depth
85 mi
Shoreline
4 ft
Typical clarity
875 ft
Elevation

Clinton Lake covers 7,000 acres in Kansas and drops to 65 feet at its deepest point. It is a reservoir impounded in 1977 and managed by USACE. Clarity is limited, which is typical of productive fisheries but worth seeing in person if you are swimming daily. Short-term rental posture: Douglas County. Confirm at the municipal level before underwriting rental income.

What stands out

  • Sailing
  • Fishing

Watch outs

  • Nutrient-rich water; seasonal algae blooms are possible
  • USACE shoreline permitting — private dock approval is not guaranteed

Score breakdown

WATER RECREATION VALUE ACCESS INVESTMENT
Water 3.8
Recreation 6.4
Value 6.8
Access 6.1
Investment 7.0

Each axis is computed by published formula from this lake's own attributes. How we score.

Water quality grade
Water A
ExcellentClear, low-nutrient water. Typically oligotrophic with high clarity and little seasonal algae.
Water B
GoodHealthy water with moderate clarity. Some seasonal variation, no persistent problems.
Water C
FairProductive water — good fishing, reduced clarity. Algae possible in late summer.
Water D
PoorNutrient-rich or heavily drawn down. Swimmable conditions vary; check before you rely on them.

Computed from measured clarity, trophic state, and drawdown magnitude — not an opinion. See the formula.

Overall score, 1–10
8.0+
ExceptionalStrong on every axis we measure.
7.0–7.9
StrongClearly above average, usually with one standout axis.
6.0–6.9
SolidA good lake with a trade-off worth understanding.
5.0–5.9
MixedReal strengths and real compromises.
Under 5
CompromisedSomething material — volatility, water quality, or access.

Weighted: water 26% · recreation 22% · investment 20% · value 18% · access 14%.

Fishery

WalleyeCrappieLargemouth bassWiper

On the water

SailingFishingBoatingCamping
No USGS gauge on this lake. Water level and clarity figures below come from published lake management data rather than a live sensor.

What the drawdown looks like

Full pool vs winter low · Clinton Lake
8 ft FULL POOL WINTER LOW

The dock sits at full-pool elevation. At low pool the waterline retreats and the reach to navigable water changes. Scale is illustrative; the 8 ft figure is from published operations for this lake.

Where it is

True shoreline from USGS NHD 30 km²

The outline is this lake's actual boundary from the USGS National Hydrography Dataset, not an approximation — 487 boundary points. Basemap is USGS topographic with contours and hydrography. Switch layers at the top right.

Depth profile

SURFACE 65 ft max avg 21 ft

Idealized cross-section. Max depth 65 ft, average 21 ft. Depth at a specific dock depends on local bathymetry — verify at the property.

Level behaviour

Level stabilityManaged Typical drawdown8 ft Drawdown seasonWinter Trophic stateEutrophic Typical clarity4 ft Water quality gradeD Elevation875 ft Managing authorityUSACE

Dock & shoreline

Permitting authorityUSACE Kansas City District Wake / speed rulesNo-wake in coves
A dock is never guaranteed. Confirm in writing with USACE Kansas City District that the specific parcel is eligible before you remove contingencies.

Short-term rental posture

Douglas County

Generally permitted, but rules change. Confirm the specific municipality and any HOA covenant.
Model rental income →
Modeled estimates. Market figures are derived from lake attributes and regional patterns, not from MLS data. Treat them as a starting point, not a comp.
$275,000
Median waterfront
$2,015
Per shoreline foot
+4.2%
Year over year
297
Est. inventory
73
Avg days on market
$650
Est. nightly rate

Rental snapshot

Modeled occupancy59% Booked nights / yr155 Gross revenue$109,748 Net operating income$55,156 Yield on median price20.06%
Open the full model →

What a median-priced home on Clinton Lake actually costs to carry, with waterfront-specific line items most calculators omit.

$2,620
All-in per month
$64,850
Cash to close + setup
$9,765
Beyond P&I, tax, insurance
Where the annual cost goes
$31,440 PER YEAR
Principal & interest $17,387 (58%) Maintenance reserve (1.1%) $3,025 (10%) Property taxes $2,888 (10%) Utilities $2,700 (9%) Hazard insurance $1,400 (5%) Shoreline / seawall reserve $960 (3%) Dock maintenance $900 (3%) Winterization / seasonal close $750 (2%)

Annual carry

Principal & interest$17,387
Property taxes$2,888
Hazard insurance$1,400
Flood insurance$650
Utilities$2,700
Maintenance reserve (1.1%)$3,025
Septic service$520
Well & water testing$260
Dock maintenance$900
Winterization / seasonal close$750
Shoreline / seawall reserve$960
Total$31,440
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