Webster Reservoir, Kansas by Kathy Alexander.
Webster Reservoir and State Park in Rooks County and Osborne Counties, Kansas, provides many opportunities amid rolling hills and spacious skies, including a sandy beach, boating, fishing, camping, a three-mile nature trail, wildlife viewing, and hunting. Other activities at the park include pickleball, disc golf, and archery.
It sits on 8,000 acres between the towns of Woodston and Osborne, on the north side of the South Fork of the Solomon River. Webster Dam, eight miles West of the city of Stockton, is the principal feature of the unit.
The total capacity of the Webster Reservoir is 260,740 acre-feet, of which 183,370 acre-feet is allocated for flood control, while 72,070 acre-feet is allocated for irrigation. At normal conservation level, the reservoir is 53 feet deep at the dam, six miles long and 1.5 miles wide, covering an area of about 3,445 surface acres. For most of its history, the reservoir has never been filled. Periods of drought and changes in farming practices in the upstream watershed often drained the reservoir. With Webster’s completion, flood control was in place.
The unit provides flood control for areas downstream of the dam, irrigation water to 8,500 irrigable acres of the Webster Irrigation District No. 4, fish and wildlife conservation and enhancement, and recreation opportunities.
Webster Reservoir, 1961.
Webster Reservoir was built by the United States Department of the Interior Bureau of Reclamation in 1956. A dedication ceremony for Webster Dam took place on October 5 and 6, 1956. A parade and free barbecue led to the dedication speech from Assistant Secretary of the Interior Fred G. Aandahl.
Webster State Park was added to the Kansas park system in 1965.
Fossils dot the rock formations around the lake’s clear water, and the lake serves as a stopover during the fall and winter months for all kinds of migratory birds and both Bald and Golden Eagles.
Camping is available along the rocky shoreline.
The park’s Coyote Trail is a three-mile easy-to-moderate nature trail with 33 interpretive stations.
The 8,018-acre Webster Wildlife Area features white-tailed mule deer, turkey, pheasant, quail, and more. Anglers enjoy fishing for Walleye, Crappie, Channel catfish, Largemouth bass, White bass, and Wipers.
3,700 acres of open water offer great fishing
The lake serves as a stopover during the fall and winter months for all kinds of migratory birds and both Bald and Golden Eagles.
Webster State Park.
The State Park is located at 1140 Ten Road, it is eight miles West of the city of Stockton on Highway 24.
©Kathy Alexander/Legends of America, updated June 2026.
Also See:
Sources:
Bureau of Reclamation
Kansas Department of Wildlife & Parks
Kansas Tourism
Wikipedia