Boaters told to avoid Tuttle Creek Cove after fuel tank submerged in Kansas lake
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is urging boaters to avoid Tuttle Creek Cove after a fuel tank from a commercial barge became submerged in the reservoir as strong winds whipped up the waves on the lake, the agency said in a news release.
At about 1:45 p.m. Sunday, a tank holding about 1,800 gallons of diesel fuel became submerged in 20 feet of water at Tuttle Creek Lake, near Manhattan, Kansas, the Corps said.
The winds and waves are suspected to be the cause of the incident. No foul play is suspected.
The Corps has activated its emergency response plan and is working with the contractor who owns the barge, along with the National Response Center and the State of Kansas, to assess and contain the fuel tank. Response crews, along with a dive team, are deploying to the lake to mitigate any environmental impact.
The public is advised to avoid boating in the cove until further notice.
