Drought has plagued the lakes in northwest Kansas for the last five or six years, but recent rains are helping reverse that trend.

With more rain predicted, many of these lakes could become the highly productive fisheries they were in the mid- to late 1990s.

Kanopolis Reservoir in Ellsworth County may have benefited most from recent rains. Last December, the lake was 7.4 feet below what is considered full. As of May 1, the lake had risen 10 feet, putting it 2.6 feet above conservation elevation and opening all boat ramps.

Every lake in the region has benefited. Although Cedar Bluff Reservoir, west of Hays, has risen only 1.6 feet, additional rain would help. The current lake elevation is 2,129 feet, almost 15 feet below conservation elevation.

Glen Elder Reservoir, near Downs, has risen 1.2 feet since December, making its current elevation 8.2 feet below conservation elevation.

The water level at Kirwin Reservoir, near Kirwin, as of May 1 was still almost 18 feet below conservation elevation although it has 6.5-feet since December.

At Lovewell Reservoir, near Mankato, the picture is somewhat better. This lake has risen almost 8 feet since December and is currently almost 6 inches above conservation elevation.

Sebelius Reservoir, near Norton, remains 14 feet below conservation elevation. Although the lake has risen 4.6 feet since December, more rains are needed to raise the lake to its conservation elevation.

Webster Reservoir, near Stockton, is in worse shape than Norton. Despite a 7-foot rise in water level since December, the lake still remains almost 22 feet below conservation elevation.

Wilson Reservoir, near Sylvan Grove, has a somewhat different story. Although the lake has risen only 2.5 feet since December, it is just 4.7 feet below conservation elevation, indicating it has not suffered from the drought quite as much as other lakes.