By TIM UNRUH

Salina Journal

LOVEWELL RESERVOIR -- To Rick Cleveland, Sunday's celebration of the 50th anniversary of Lovewell Reservoir is like a birthday party for a close friend.

"I've lived on the lake all my life. It's a major factor of my life," said Cleveland, 53, Courtland.

His family moved to the lake on Cleveland's third birthday. His father, the late Randall Cleveland, was the first reservoir superintendent for the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation.

Rick Cleveland worked at the lake as a boy. He has been Lovewell State Park manager since 1987.

Sunday, he'll celebrate with others the effect the reservoir has had on the area.

A special Lovewell exhibit will open at noon Sunday at the Courtland Kansas Community Arts Center. A bus tour of the Lovewell area, limited to 110 people, leaves from the art center at 1 p.m.

Kansas Rep. Jerry Moran will attend the 4:30 p.m. dedication ceremony at the lake, along with several state lawmakers. A barbecue follows for 300 ticket holders. Bus and barbecue tickets are available at Swedish American State Bank, Courtland. Free vehicle passes will be given out at the state park office.

The June 5, 1958 dedication of Lovewell was the fruition of a late 1930s idea of Chris Green, then owner of the Courtland bank, and a Scandia dentist, E. Porter Ahrens, who pushed the project. It was at times controversial.

"Those two guys had a vision of what this could do for this area. It's been a blessing," said Mike Johnson, Courtland, Green's grandson and the current bank president.

The reservoir, which irrigates 29,620 of 43,000 acres in the Bostwick Irrigation District, added to the area's productivity. Last year, the district produced $19 million in crops, said Kenny Nelson, Courtland, Bostwick District superintendent.

Area towns have had a love fest with Lovewell.

The lake is 18 miles northeast of Mankato in Jewell County and 18 miles from Courtland.

The lake has "stabilized this economy" when other small towns have failed, Johnson said.

"Every year, unless we get hailed out or something, we're assured of raising a crop," Johnson said. "Main Street's full."

In the early 1960s, Lovewell blossomed as a recreation destination, attracting campers, anglers, hunters and boaters from north-central Kansas and south-central Nebraska. More than 245,000 people visited the state park last year, Cleveland said.

The lake fills up through the winter and is full to 3,000 surface acres at conservation level when the camping season begins in the spring. The lake is drawn down as farmers in the irrigation district water their crops. That frees up more area for hunting and wildlife activities in the fall.

"The flood control, irrigation and recreation all work together," Cleveland said. "That's what makes Lovewell special."

n Reporter Tim Unruh can be reached at 822-1419 or by e-mail at tunruh@salina.com.