Tuttle Creek Dam dam
Tuttle Creek Dam
Tuttle Creek Dam, also known as Tuttle Creek Lake, is a federally owned structure located in Manhattan, Kansas, along the Big Blue River. Completed in 1962, this rockfill dam stands at a structural height of 157 feet and has a total length of 7,500 feet. The dam serves primarily for flood risk reduction, with additional purposes including fish and wildlife habitat, recreation, and navigation.
With a maximum storage capacity of 2,257,000 acre-feet and a normal storage level of 335,100 acre-feet, Tuttle Creek Dam plays a crucial role in managing water resources in the region. The dam's controlled spillway, with a width of 839 feet, helps regulate water levels during high flow events. Despite being categorized with a high hazard potential, the US Army Corps of Engineers actively manages dam-related flood risks through regular inspections, maintenance, and collaboration with local emergency managers to ensure the safety and integrity of the structure.
As a key component of the water infrastructure in Kansas, Tuttle Creek Dam showcases the importance of effective risk management and emergency preparedness in safeguarding communities against potential flooding events. With ongoing monitoring and strategic interventions in place, the dam continues to fulfill its critical role in protecting downstream areas and supporting various water-related activities in the region.
Dam data reference
Condition Assessment
- Satisfactory
- No existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. Acceptable performance is expected under all loading conditions (static, hydrologic, seismic) in accordance with the minimum applicable state or federal regulatory criteria or tolerable risk guidelines.
- Fair
- No existing dam safety deficiencies are recognized for normal operating conditions. Rare or extreme hydrologic and/or seismic events may result in a dam safety deficiency. Risk may be in the range to take further action.
- Poor
- A dam safety deficiency is recognized for normal operating conditions which may realistically occur. Remedial action is necessary. POOR may also be used when uncertainties exist as to critical analysis parameters which identify a potential dam safety deficiency.
- Unsatisfactory
- A dam safety deficiency is recognized that requires immediate or emergency remedial action for problem resolution.
- Not Rated
- The dam has not been inspected, is not under state or federal jurisdiction, or has been inspected but, for whatever reason, has not been rated.
Hazard Potential Classification
- High
- Dams assigned the high hazard potential classification are those where failure or mis-operation will probably cause loss of human life.
- Significant
- Dams assigned the significant hazard potential classification are those dams where failure or mis-operation results in no probable loss of human life but can cause economic loss, environmental damage, disruption of lifeline facilities, or impact other concerns. Significant hazard potential classification dams are often located in predominantly rural or agricultural areas but could be in areas with population and significant infrastructure.
- Low
- Dams assigned the low hazard potential classification are those where failure or mis-operation results in no probable loss of human life and low economic and/or environmental losses. Losses are principally limited to the owner's property.
- Undetermined
- Dams for which a downstream hazard potential has not been designated or is not provided.
Plan around the weather
Same NOAA / yr.no feed Snoflo's iOS app uses. Watch the precipitation column on the meteogram -- rain on the basin upstream typically lifts inflow 24-72 hours later.
Next 5 days, hour by hour
Temperature line with weather symbols on top, snow + rain accumulation as columns, humidity as a dotted line.
5-day forecast table
Every 3 hours, broken out across temperature, snow, rain, humidity, and wind. Each cell is colour-coded relative to the column min/max.
| Time | Condition | Temp (°F) | Snow (in) | Rain (in) | Humidity (%) | Wind (mps) | Wind dir |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loading detailed forecast… | |||||||
15-day temperature & precipitation
Daily temperatures, snow, and rain projected over the next two weeks.
Nearby streamflow gauges
USGS streamgauges around Tuttle Creek Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Big Blue R Nr Manhattan | 519 cfs | → |
| Kings C Nr Manhattan | 0 cfs | → |
| Rock C Nr Louisville | 16 cfs | → |
| Kansas R At Wamego | 1,300 cfs | → |
| Kansas R At Fort Riley | 356 cfs | → |
| Republican R Bl Milford Dam | 80 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Tuttle Creek Dam.
Boat launches
- Riley County
- Spillway Marina Road Pottawatomie County
- State Lake Road 7988, Pottawatomie County
- Stockdale Park Road 4800, Manhattan
- Stockdale Park Road Riley County
- Linear Trail Pottawatomie County
Campgrounds
- Tuttle Creek State Park
- Tuttle Creek Cove - Tuttle Creek Lake
- Stockdale - Tuttle Creek Reservoir
- Oregon Trail Rv Park
- Farnum Creek - Milford Lake
- Milford State Park
Fishing spots
Track Tuttle Creek Dam in the Snoflo app
Save this dam as a favorite and get the local NOAA / yr.no forecast plus regional flow context wherever you are.
About Tuttle Creek Dam
Where does the data for Tuttle Creek Dam come from?
Structural and regulatory data come from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' National Inventory of Dams (NID). Weather forecast comes from NOAA / yr.no -- the same feed Snoflo's iOS app uses.
How often is the report updated?
NID structural data refreshes annually as the Corps publishes updated assessments. The weather forecast refreshes throughout the day.
What does the High hazard rating mean?
The Corps of Engineers' hazard potential classification grades probable consequences if the dam fails: High = probable loss of human life; Significant = no probable loss of human life but possible economic loss / environmental damage; Low = no probable loss of human life, only minor economic / environmental losses. See the Dam Data Reference card above for the full definitions.
What's "% of normal"?
The current storage value compared to the historical average storage on this calendar day. 100% = right on average; values above 100% mean above-normal storage (wet year); values below mean below-normal (dry year or drought).
Can I get alerts when storage crosses a threshold?
Yes -- alerts are managed in the Snoflo iOS app. Favorite this dam, set a threshold, and you'll get a push the moment conditions cross.
Other water bodies near here
Snoflo-tracked reservoirs and dams within driving distance of Tuttle Creek Dam.