Tuttle Creek Lake

Tuttle Creek Lake
Tuttle Creek Dam
Location of Tuttle Creek Lake in Kansas, USA.
Location of Tuttle Creek Lake in Kansas, USA.
Tuttle Creek Lake
Location of Tuttle Creek Lake in Kansas, USA.
Location of Tuttle Creek Lake in Kansas, USA.
Tuttle Creek Lake
LocationPottawatomie / Riley / Marshall counties in Kansas
Coordinates39°15′25″N 96°35′32″W / 39.25694°N 96.59222°W / 39.25694; -96.59222
TypeReservoir
Primary inflowsBig Blue River
Primary outflowsBig Blue River to Kansas River
Catchment area25,000 km2 (9,600 mi2)[1]
Basin countriesUnited States
Max. length25 km (16 mi)[1]
Max. width2 km (1.3 mi)
Surface area50 km2 (19 mi2)[1]
Max. depth15 m (50 ft)[2]
Water volume0.41 km3 (0.098 cu mi) (normal level)[1]
Shore length1160 km (100 mi)[1]
Surface elevation328 m (1075 ft)[1]
SettlementsManhattan
References[3][1][2]
1 Shore length is not a well-defined measure.

Tuttle Creek Lake is a reservoir on the Big Blue River 5 miles (8 km) north of Manhattan, in the Flint Hills region of northeast Kansas. It was built and is operated by the Army Corps of Engineers for the primary purpose of flood control. Secondary functions of the project include release of water stores to maintain barge traffic on the Mississippi River during seasons of drought, maintenance of a multi-use conservation pool for fish and wildlife enhancement and recreation (fishing, hunting, and boating), and release of sufficient water in droughts to maintain water quality for downstream communities.[4]

The base of the dam is bordered by Tuttle Creek State Park, which features 1,200 acres (4.9 km2) of recreational areas, including nature trails, camping sites, and an artificial beach.[5] The state park also hosted the Country Stampede Music Festival every summer from 1996 to 2018.

  1. ^ a b c d e f g "Tuttle Creek Lake". U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Kansas City District. Archived from the original on December 18, 2006. Retrieved January 15, 2007.
  2. ^ a b "Tuttle Creek Reservoir". Kansas Department of Wildlife & Parks. Archived from the original on September 27, 2007. Retrieved January 15, 2007.
  3. ^ "Tuttle Creek Dam". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. October 13, 1978. Retrieved January 16, 2021.
  4. ^ "Post-Construction History". www.nwk.usace.army.mil. United States Army Corps of Engineers. Retrieved June 1, 2019. The primary lake regulation objective at Tuttle Creek Lake is flood control. Secondary objectives are navigation, water quality, recreation, and fish and wildlife enhancement. These will be achieved insofar as practicable without detriment to the primary purpose.
  5. ^ "Tuttle Creek State Park". Kansas Department of Wildlife & Parks. Retrieved January 22, 2008.