18 Mar 2026

Agencies Continue Coordinated Response to Fuel Tank Incident at Tuttle Creek Lake

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 7, and Kansas Department of Health and Environment continue to coordinate response efforts for a submerged fuel tank incident at Tuttle Creek Lake. The work is being conducted by the Water Injection Dredging project contractor, Michels, and their subcontracted hazardous materials (hazmat) team. On Tuesday, March 17, response crews were on-site to deploy containment measures. The submerged fuel tank was fully enclosed with containment boom by noon. Throughout the day, additional absorbent booms and pads were strategically placed to contain and collect observed surface sheen and collect recoverable diesel in the cove.

16 Mar 2026

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is responding to an incident involving a fuel tank on a commercial barge at Tuttle Creek Lake.

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.