What We Do

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers staff at Tuttle Creek Lake manages the lake to provide benefits to the nation in the areas of flood control, recreation, fish and wildlife management, navigation and water quality improvement.

The Corps manages 12,350-acre Tuttle Creek Lake and an additional 20,000 acres of land around the lake.

The staff conducts routine dam safety inspections to maintain the dam and outlet works. Corps employees release water through Tuttle Creek Dam to the Big Blue River in coordination with the Kansas City District’s Water Management Section.

The Corps of Engineers manages six parks around the lake. Many of these parks include paved roads, campsites, boat ramps and picnic grounds. Two parks are devoted to off-road vehicle enthusiasts.

Some maintenance activities are contracted to the private sector. Mowing, trash collection and facility cleaning are a few of the activities that are performed by private contractors for the Corps. The Corps manages the contracts to ensure that the services are provided for visitors to the lake.

The Corps of Engineers manages the natural resources on roughly the southern half of the project. The northern half is leased to the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks for the enhancement of wildlife.

Other Corps of Engineers activities include public relations, visitor services, real estate management, emergency services, prairie management, planting trees and wildlife food plots, park patrol and park maintenance.