Flooding at Cheney Lake leads to multiple campground closures, evacuations and more
By Sydney Ferguson
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CHENEY LAKE, Kan. (KAKE) — The storms and heavy rains have passed, but areas like Cheney Lake are still dealing with the aftereffects of flash flooding. Saturday, a campground had to be evacuated due to higher-than-normal water levels, and the state park says the water isn’t likely to recede for a while.
Greg Neuway has been camping at Cheney Lake since April. On Sunday, he said he was here last Thursday when storms rolled through during a flash-flooding event.
“Pretty ferocious — lot of rain coming down in a hurry,” said Neuway. “It washed rocks out of the lot where we park our campers, so it was coming down like cats and dogs.”
The flooding left lake levels 3.28 Feet above normal, according to a post from Cheney State Park officials on Saturday.
Just hours after that post, the park made another saying Heimermann Point campground had to be evacuated.
“We’ve been through the last one here, so we knew they would be first evacuated before we ever get evacuated here,” said Neuway.
Neuway says he likes seeing the lake full after the drought, but it made using and storing his boat more difficult.
“I just had to relocate and put it up on land a lot farther, because it’s coming up so quick,” said Neuway. “I can’t get a boat out, I mean [I] reloaded it on my trailer because [the water] comes up too high.”
The high water also left the parking lot at the lake’s boat ramp half-flooded, with multiple gazebos and benches slightly submerged.
Collin Arp says he came to the lake on Sunday to jet ski, and he can relate to Neuway’s struggle to get his ride into the water.
“It’s crazy … stuff doesn’t work how it’s supposed to normally,” said Arp. “If I were to go into this water with that big boat, my wheels can just keep on spinning and drag me into the water, so I just decided to ride the jet skis out here today.”
Arp says he’s never seen the lake this high, but there are still ways to enjoy it.
“Be safe, watch the waves, and know your surroundings,” said Arp.
Around the lake, M&M Point and Wichita Point were blocked by barricades, similar to those at Heimermann Point, but park officials would not provide additional information about the closures.
In its post about the flooding, the park says it’s likely the water won’t recede for a while because of downstream flooding in other reservoirs.
“It’s gonna mess up some Fourth of July plans,” said Neuway. “They’re gonna have to open the gates wide open to get her down where they can open some of the campsites back up.”
Neuway says it’s likely people trying to celebrate won’t want to deal with the high water levels or the issues that come with it.
“They’re gonna come out and look, but they probably won’t come out and stay,” said Neuway.
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