Topeka ? Does waterfront property in landlocked Kansas sound like a put-on?

Fact is, there are many housing developments around small, mostly private lakes in Kansas.

But officials are taking that concept a step further and investigating development potential on public lands at federal reservoirs across the state. Clinton Lake, outside Lawrence, is considered in the top tier for potential residential and resort development.

“The goal would be to encourage development while also preserving the attributes that make the area attractive to start with,” said Earl Lewis, manager of hydrology and evaluation at the Kansas Water Office.

The Kansas Water Office just completed a preliminary study of the economic potential at Kansas’ 24 federal lakes.

Also in the works is a study commissioned by the Kansas Department of Commerce on the market demand for residential development, outdoor recreation and resort destinations at the same locations.

Clinton, Perry high on lists

Nationwide, the drive toward the water is increasing as baby boomers retire, and upper-income families seek second homes or vacation homes, according to the authors of the preliminary draft by the Water Office.

Melony Cooper, and her son Remington, 5 months, spent most of Friday at Bloomington Beach at Clinton Lake. State water officials are looking into the development potential of public lands at federal reservoirs around the state, including Clinton Lake just outside Lawrence.

Clinton Lake ranks in the top tier for possible residential and resort development; and Lake Perry is among the top groups for a possible resort, according to the report.

Clinton Lake is identified for its beautiful vistas, its location, which is within 50 miles of major cities, and proximity to highways.

But developers and planning officials say dreaming of lakeside development and building it are two different things.

“In terms of a bird’s-eye view, that would be a great place,” Mark Buhler, broker with Stephens Real Estate Inc., said of Clinton Lake.

But he said there would be a lot of obstacles, such as extending utilities and putting in place a sewage system.

Linda Finger, director of city-county planning, said major development around the lake would require miles of water lines.

“You couldn’t just dead-end them. You would have to loop them,” she said.

Considered before

The idea of building on public lands around the federal lakes is not new, but not much has happened.

In 1989, the Kansas Legislature approved a bill to allow resorts to be developed at federal lakes, but no development occurred.

Of Kansas’ 24 federal lakes, 17 are operated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, including Clinton and Perry, and seven by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation.

The Water Office study indicates that any use of public lands for a private development would likely require leasing land for a public use that would tie in to the larger development effort. Any change in land use would require federal approval.

The federal agencies are developing criteria to guide them for potential economic development projects, the study said.

An example of private-public use approved by the federal government is at the Skiatook Reservoir, 20 miles north of Tulsa, Okla., in which plans call for a conference center, entertainment, and boating and dining facilities, the study said.

In 2001, a proposed resort at Clinton Lake State Park died. Developers complained local officials showed little interest in helping subsidize the project.

Since the lands around the federal lakes are public lands, the federal government has allowed limited private use over the years.

But whether that would work in Kansas remains to be seen.

Still, officials said they need to explore the issue.

“The goal is to make sure that we are not missing out here on what is both an economic and quality of life issue as well,” Lewis, with the Water Office, said.

Buhler agreed for the need to keep studying this issue.

“We need a reason for people to come here and stay. This is absolutely what we need to be doing,” he said.