| Waterfowl numbers | Good numbers of ducks and geese. Numbers have decreased significantly since last week. A fairly large group of light geese is using the reservoir as a day roost. |
| Mallard Migration Ranking | |
| Water level | Lovewell Reservoir is holding for the last three weeks at 1579.3 or 3.3 feet below Conservation Pool,( 71.6% full).The elevation has been near this elevation for the past 30 days. Inflows from the Guide Rock Diversion Canal from the Republican River is being used to refill the reserervoir have resumed but are very low cfs. Irrigation season ended on 9/13. |
| Hunting condition | ICE. Only 30% open water. Hunting conditions this late in the season are very dependent on ice conditions. The entire reservoir has frozen and thawed several times since the 1st segment closed.The current winter storm will freeze a majority of the resevoir and this will be in place for the remainder of the LPLZ 2nd segment which ends on 1/25. Current water levels have created a mudflat ring around the entire reservoir. Little concealing vegetation is close to the waters edge. No Japanese millet was planted this year due to higher than normal water elevations during the planting season resulting in no mudflats available to seed LOVEWELL RESERVOIR HAS NO WATCHES OR WARNINGS FOR HARMFUL ALGAE BLOOMS. USERS SHOULD STILL BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR POCKETS OF HARMFUL ALGAE BLOOMS. ALL BOAT RAMPS ARE FROZEN, CEDAR POINT IN LOVEWELL STATE PARK, THE MARINA IN THE PARK AND PAWNEE POINT AND OAK HILL ON THE WILDLIFE AREA ARE FROZEN TODAY (1/23). WHITE ROCK CREEK AREA IS OUT OF WATER AND CLOSED TO VEHICLES AT THIS ELEVATION. OAK HILL IS AT THE BOTTOM OF THE CONCRETE RAMP AT THIS ELEVATION. USE CAUTION FOR LARGER BOATS AND TRAILERS. ALL BOATS ARE REQUIRED TO USE NAVIGATION LIGHTS WHILE OPERATING BETWEEN THE HOURS OF SUNSET AND SUNRISE. PFD'S MUST NOT BE STOWED IN ANY COMPARTMENT WHILE THE BOAT IS UNDER POWER. KEEP THEM OUT OR BETTER YET ...ON! NON-MOTORIZED BOAT NEED SOME FLASHLIGHT OR LANTERN. |
| Expected hunting success | POOR ON THE WILDLIFE AREA DUE TO THE FROZEN CONDITIONS. WATERFOWL ARE VERY REFUGE ORIENTED DUE TO PAST AND PRESENT HUNTER AND ANGLER PRESSURE. OBTAIN PERMISSION FROM ALL PRIVATE LANDOWNERS BEFORE HUNTING ON ANY OF THEIR PROPERTY |
| Comments | REFUGE REGULATIONS: The land refuge closed to hunting and other activities year-round. Water refuge in effect November 1 through April 15 on the NORTHEAST half of the reservoir and Wildlife Area from 1/8th mile west of the south end of the dam and following a buoy line northwest to the western boundary of the Cabin Area of the State Park. This area open to fishing south and east of the buoy line from the north end of the dam to the Lovewell State Park Twin Coves trailer area. Inlet canal closed to fishing September 15 through April 15. BOAT RAMPS: SEE HUNTING CONDITION FOR BOAT RAMP STATUS. The State Park boat ramps require a Kansas State Park Permit. The Wildlife Area Boat Ramps are Pawnee Point, Oak Hill and White Rock Creek do not require a permit. CAMPING CABINS are available in Lovewell State Park. Make reservations HERE HUNTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO :
FOLLOWING SAFE AND ETHICAL PRACTICES WILL ENSURE THAT EVERYONE HUNTING PUBLIC LANDS ENJOYS A HIGH-QUALITY EXPERIENCE. Hunters can check-in / check-out here, https://license.gooutdoorskansas.com using your licensing login credentials. Contact the office for other arrangements. We thank you for your patience. Please introduce youth and novice hunters to the outdoors. Pass it on! |
