( CNN ) -- The recent drought has ruined millions of acres of farmland in Texas , turning lakes into mud puddles , but in the East Texas city of Nacogdoches , authorities say , the drought may have done something good : Unearthed a piece of the space shuttle Columbia . The object , which is about 4 feet in diameter , was found in a local lake . NASA says it is a tank that provides power and water for shuttle missions . `` It 's one of ours , '' said Lisa Malone , a spokeswoman for the agency . Malone added that NASA is trying to develop a plan to recover the item , but it could take weeks to get it . `` We 're looking into whether we 'll send a team out or local authorities can , '' Malone said . Authorities say the object was found after the drought caused the waters to recede in Lake Nacogdoches , and they notified representatives from NASA on Friday . `` The lower water level has exposed a larger than normal area on the northern side of the lake , '' said Sgt . Greg Sowell of the Nacogdoches Police Department . The item is full of mud and is in a remote area near a private shoreline , Sowell said . Nacogdoches made headlines in 2003 when debris from the shuttle Columbia disaster was found there . The spacecraft broke up while re-entering Earth 's atmosphere near the end of its mission on February 1 , 2003 . `` We want to remind everyone that the rules are the same as they were back in 2003 . If this object is indeed a part of the shuttle , it is government property , and it is a criminal offense to tamper with it , '' Sowell said . CNN 's Dave Alsup contributed to this report .
The object is a tank that provides fuel and water for shuttle missions . It was built after drought caused lake levels to rise . Columbia broke up while re - entering atmosphere in space .