KANSAS CITY, Mo.—With Tuttle Creek Lake at more than 11 feet below its normal pool elevation, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers would like to remind the public of several activities that are prohibited on the newly-exposed lake bed.
Common violations on public property include driving along the shoreline, disturbing historic or cultural resource sites, and using metal detectors outside of the lake’s park areas. Persons engaged in any of these activities while on public property are subject to both citations and fines.
Shoreline/lakebed off-road driving typically causes vehicles to get stuck along the shore leaving vehicle owners to pay hundreds of dollars to be pulled out. The operation of a vehicle off the roadway can result in a citation. This prohibition covers any vehicle; car, truck, all-terrain vehicles, utility vehicles, motorcycle, etc.
All cultural and historic sites that may be exposed by the low water are protected by federal law. Anyone found disturbing a cultural or historic site could be summoned to a mandatory appearance in federal court.
The use of metal detectors has been managed by policy at Tuttle Creek for several years. The policy restricts the use of metal detectors to only inside the lake’s defined campground park boundaries. This regulation does not change because of low water. In addition, any non-identifiable items found on public property with a nominal value of $25 or more must be turned into the Tuttle Creek Lake project office at 5020 Tuttle Creek Blvd, Manhattan, Kan.
If you have any questions, please contact the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers at 785-539-8511.
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Release no. PA-2012-67