Douglas County State Lake is now dry in more ways than one.
Chris Lecuyer, an assistant manager for Kansas Wildlife and Parks, said on Jan. 1 prohibition went into effect at the lake, which was drained in October to allow repairs and maintenance on the dam. The decision to prohibit alcohol came as a result of excess trash around the lake, among other things.
“It was mostly for trash related reasons, but not exclusively about that. I’d say over 50 percent of the reason,” Lecuyer explained. “A lot of questionable activities were going on out there as well – vandalism, paintball. It all seemed to be traced to the alcohol.”
Lecuyer said some problems also were reported with underage drinking, especially during holiday weekends.
Senior Sarah Douglass said she doesn’t think the new regulations will curb drinking at the lake.
“It’s a big lake,” Douglass said. “I think students will find a place to do what they want to do.”
Lecuyer said no fines have yet been issued, which he attributes to the lake being drained. With no water, Lecuyer said, the lake has very few visitors.
“It has slacked off quite a bit,” he said. “It’s really more casual observers monitoring the repairs to the dam.”
Though repairs were needed, Lecuyer said the draining of the lake also allowed the lake’s fishing population to be replenished.
“It was good timing. The fish population was in need of starting over. It wasn’t really healthy.”
The repairs to the dam are scheduled to be complete in May. Lecuyer said experts predict with normal rainfall the lake will take two years to refill.