MANHATTAN, Kan. -- The Kansas City District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is responding to an incident involving a fuel tank on a commercial barge at Tuttle Creek Lake.
The incident occurred on the afternoon of March 15, 2026, at approximately 1:45 p.m. when a fuel cell holding approximately 1,800 gallons of diesel fuel became submerged in 20 feet of water. High winds and wave action from the lake are suspected to be the cause of the incident. No foul play is suspected. The safety of the public and the protection of the environment are our top priorities.
We have activated our emergency response plan and are working closely with the contractor who owns the barge, the National Response Center and the state of Kansas to assess and contain the situation. Response crews and equipment, including a dive team, are deploying to the site to mitigate any potential environmental impact.
The public is advised to avoid boating in Tuttle Creek Cove until further notice.
We are committed to providing timely and transparent updates as more information becomes available. For the latest information, please visit our Kansas City District Facebook at www.facebook.com/usacekc.
For media inquiries, please contact: CENWK-PA@usace.army.mil.
Release no. 26-006