KDHE Rescinds Tuttle Creek Lake Stream Advisory After Fuel Spill

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Published March 25th, 2026

Detected March 26th, 2026

Summary

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) has rescinded a stream advisory for Tuttle Creek Cove on Tuttle Creek Lake near Manhattan, Kansas. The advisory was issued following a diesel fuel spill from a commercial barge on March 15, 2026, but water quality testing has confirmed conditions are now safe for water contact.

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What changed

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) has officially rescinded the stream advisory for Tuttle Creek Cove on Tuttle Creek Lake. This action follows a diesel fuel spill from a submerged commercial barge on March 15, 2026. Comprehensive water quality sampling conducted by KDHE, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 7 indicated that fuel-related contaminants are no longer present above drinking water standards in the cove or downstream.

While the advisory has been lifted, KDHE and USACE will continue water quality monitoring downstream from Tuttle Creek Lake to ensure ongoing safety. Regulated entities or individuals with operations on or near Tuttle Creek Lake should be aware that while this specific advisory is resolved, ongoing monitoring may still be in place. No specific compliance actions are required for the public as a result of this rescission, but awareness of environmental incident response protocols remains important.

Source document (simplified)

Stream Advisory Rescinded for Tuttle Creek Cove on Tuttle Creek Lake near Manhattan, Kansas

Press Releases Posted on March 25, 2026

Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) has rescinded its stream advisory for the Tuttle Creek Cove on the Tuttle Creek Lake, as conditions have been evaluated and contact with the water has been deemed safe.

The stream advisory was due to the release of diesel fuel from a tank on a commercial barge that became submerged in Tuttle Creek Lake on March 15. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 7 and KDHE performed comprehensive water quality sampling, and a monitoring plan will continue.

Water quality samples collected by KDHE and USACE have shown no fuel-related contaminants above drinking water standards. These samples were taken from both the spill location in the cove and downstream at the confluence of the Big Blue and Kansas Rivers. Water quality testing will continue downstream to monitor releases from Tuttle Creek Lake.