Tuttle Creek Lake

Tuttle Creek Lake is a reservoir on the Big Blue River 5 miles 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, and release of sufficient water in droughts to maintain water quality for downstream communities.The base of the dam is bordered by Tuttle Creek State Park, which features 1,200 acres of recreational areas, including nature trails, camping sites, and an artificial beach. The state park also hosted the Country Stampede Music Festival every summer from 1996 to 2018.