KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- The Kansas City District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, announces the Tuttle Creek Reservoir Water Injection Dredging pilot project's initial phase will shift to fall 2025.
This first-of-its-kind pilot project requires custom-built equipment. The schedule change is due to manufacturing delays for specialty pump parts, a critical component of the innovative system.
"To guarantee the integrity of this groundbreaking project, thorough testing, data collection and monitoring are key," said Col. Andrew Niewohner, Kansas City District commander. "This delay, while unfortunate, ensures that we fully understand the impacts of the Water Injection Dredging and its future potential."
Following the initial fall 2025 demonstration, additional dredge periods are planned for spring and summer 2026.
The Water Injection Dredging pilot project, a collaboration with the Kansas Water Office, will test technology that may have potential to help maintain Tuttle Creek Reservoir's current storage capacity. Sedimentation has significantly reduced the lake’s storage, displacing 438 million cubic yards of storage and impacting flood control, water supply and recreation. Projections show severe capacity loss by 2049 without intervention.
As Kansas's largest reservoir, Tuttle Creek Reservoir provides critical flood control, water supply and other benefits to the state’s residents, preventing an estimated $12.4 billion in flood damages since its construction.
"The long-term viability of Tuttle Creek Reservoir is paramount," said Niewohner. " We remain committed to this project and are confident the knowledge gained will be invaluable for sedimentation management across the nation."
Insights from this pilot project will inform future sediment management strategies nationwide, continuing the collaborative effort for long-term water supply solutions.
For more information about the Tuttle Creek Reservoir Water Injection Dredging pilot project, contact TuttleCreekWaterReservoirInjectionDredgingDemonstration@usace.army.mil or visit the project’s website.
For media inquiries, please contact CENWK-PA@usace.army.mil.