Fall River Wildlife Area

Brochures
Facilities
Fall River Reservoir Waterfowl Report
Fall River Reservoir Fishing Information

The Fall River Wildlife Area is located in the physiographic area know as the Osage Cuestas, in rolling prairie country, with a wide fertile flood plain valley surrounded by steep rolling uplands. The area has very distinct habitats including 6 miles of Otter Creek and 14 miles of Fall River with 2300 acres of riparian timber, 2500 acres of native grass, 2988 acres of cropland and 960 acres of the Fall River Reservoir.

Area management will focus on increasing the quality of the experience for visitors, managing wildlife and wildlife habitats with an ecological based approach while providing quality hunting, fishing and outdoor recreational opportunities. Species managed for include deer, turkey, waterfowl, quail, squirrels and doves.

Special Features

  • 2 Waterfowl Refuges closed to all activity all year.
  • Ladd Bridge boat ramp on river.
  • Two Duck Archaeological Sites
  • Moss Ford a 200 foot wide river crossing.
Phone:
County/Counties:

Manager: John Jameson
Phone: (620) 583-6783

Eureka is the closest town with gas stations, grocery stores, etc.

Climax (if it shows on the map) is the closest town but has no businesses of any kind.

- Updated: 12/31/1969

General Information
Phone:
County/Counties:

Fall River Reservoir & WA (PDF 314.31 kB)

Manager: John Jameson
Phone: (620) 583-6783

Eureka is the closest town with gas stations, grocery stores, etc.

Climax (if it shows on the map) is the closest town but has no businesses of any kind.


Special Regulations

Off Road Vehicles (including e-bikes) and Horse use is prohibited.

Here is a complete list of Public Land Regulations or you can download the regulation summary.

History

The 9,352 acre Fall River Wildlife Area was made available to the Kansas Forestry Fish and Game Commission under terms of a license with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in 1964.

Fall River Facilities
Fall River WA Office
  • Type of Facility: Office
  • Location of Facility: N37 43.463 W96 12.486
  • Click for more information
    xmlns:xhtml='http://ez.no/namespaces/ezpublish3/xhtml/' ><paragraph>Located near the west end of the Wildlife Area directly east of Climax approximately 1 mile. This office is the management headquarters for the Wildlife Area.</paragraph></s xmlns:xhtml='http://ez.no/namespaces/ezpublish3/xhtml/' >

    Located near the west end of the Wildlife Area directly east of Climax approximately 1 mile. This office is the management headquarters for the Wildlife Area.


Floating Dock
  • Type of Facility: Dock
  • Location of Facility: N37 38.931 W96 04.502
  • Click for more information
    xmlns:xhtml='http://ez.no/namespaces/ezpublish3/xhtml/' ><paragraph>Next to Engineers Cove boat ramp.</paragraph></s xmlns:xhtml='http://ez.no/namespaces/ezpublish3/xhtml/' >

    Next to Engineers Cove boat ramp.


Engineers Cove Boat Ramp
  • Type of Facility: Boat Ramp
  • Location of Facility: N37 38.931 W96 04.502
  • Click for more information
    xmlns:xhtml='http://ez.no/namespaces/ezpublish3/xhtml/' ><paragraph>This boat ramp is located on the south side of the reservoir near the dam in Engineers Cove.</paragraph></s xmlns:xhtml='http://ez.no/namespaces/ezpublish3/xhtml/' >

    This boat ramp is located on the south side of the reservoir near the dam in Engineers Cove.


Ladd Bridge Boat Ramp
  • Type of Facility: Boat Ramp
  • Location of Facility: N37 42.482 W96 08.423
  • Click for more information
    xmlns:xhtml='http://ez.no/namespaces/ezpublish3/xhtml/' ><paragraph>This boat ramp is located on the river for river access</paragraph></s xmlns:xhtml='http://ez.no/namespaces/ezpublish3/xhtml/' >

    This boat ramp is located on the river for river access


Fall River Reservoir Waterfowl Report - 01/09/2024
Waterfowl numbers

01/09/24

Decent numbers of dabblers on the lake at any given time along with small groups of divers. Area pasture ponds have been holding some small groups of birds but not many.

Water level Lake level is 1.35 feet above normal pool. Many area marshes are dry.
Hunting conditions Conditions are going to be promising around the lake due to recent water rises that flooded the heavily vegetated mudflats.
Expected hunting success Moderate
Comments Waterfowl reports will be updated on a bi-weekly basis during the fall and winter waterfowl seasons.  Updates will be made when significant changes in waterfowl numbers are observed. For information pertaining to the Fall River Wildlife Area call 620-583-6783.