[6] The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation authorized construction of Wilson Lake for the purposes of irrigation, navigation enhancement, flood control, recreation, fish and wildlife habitat, and water quality assurance.

[7] The Corps of Engineers planned, designed, and constructed Wilson Dam, completing it in 1964 at a cost of $20 million, and continues to manage the reservoir to the present day.

[2] The Kansas City District of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers manages Wilson Dam, Wilson Lake, and 13,000 acres (53 km2) of land surrounding the reservoir for the purposes of flood control, recreation, fish and wildlife management, and downstream water quality improvement.

They also provide visitor assistance, conduct park maintenance and patrolling, and perform wildlife food plot management.

[8][16] Management activities include prescribed burning, tree and native grass plantings, invasive species control, and agricultural leases.

Fisheries management activities include fish sampling and stocking, population monitoring, habitat work, and aquatic vegetation enhancement.

[8] Lucas Park is located on the north shore of the reservoir's eastern end and includes the Rocktown Natural Area.

Minooka Park, named after the Otoe word for "good earth", lies on the south shore of the central part of the reservoir.

[17] The KDWP operates Wilson State Park located on the south shore of the reservoir's eastern end.

Both areas include hiking trails, swimming beaches, boat ramps, and camping facilities.

It is also home to a number of plant species uncommon to the region: Fremont's clematis, shortstem spiderwort, and Maryland senna among others.

Game animals living on land around the reservoir include common pheasants, deer, ducks, geese, prairie chickens, quail, rabbits, and turkeys.