Divers join effort to recover submerged fuel tank from Kansas’ Tuttle Creek Lake
Crews continued working this week to remove a submerged fuel tank from Tuttle Creek Lake where it had been since Sunday after strong winds and waves knocked it off a barge.
Response teams spent several days in Manhattan, Kansas, trying to contain the fuel. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has been providing “additional federal oversight” to ensure the cleanup is thorough and effective, according to a release from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
The Corps of Engineers is coordinating response efforts with the EPA, Region 7 and the Kansas Department of Health and Environment.
On Tuesday, “additional absorbent booms and pads were strategically placed to contain and collect observed surface sheen and collect recoverable diesel in the cove,” the release said.
A specialized dive team began on-site operations on Wednesday.
“The primary goal is to assess the condition of the submerged fuel tank, develop and execute a plan to safely recover it,” the release said. “Until the tank is recovered and its contents can be measured, the exact quantity of fuel lost cannot be determined.”
In an update Thursday, the EPA Heartland Region posted on social media that the fuel tank was recovered at 9:42 p.m. Wednesday.
“With the source of the diesel leak now secure, EPA responders will do a walk through with its responding partners before transitioning the remaining response efforts to USACE and @KDHE,” the post said.
At about 1:45 p.m. Sunday, the tank holding an estimated 1,800 gallons of diesel fuel became submerged in 20 feet of water at the lake.
The winds and waves are suspected to be the cause of the incident. No foul play is suspected.
The Star’s Robert A. Cronkleton contributed information to this story.
This story was originally published March 19, 2026 at 8:39 AM.
