WASHINGTON – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has launched its Recreation Operational Status website to keep the public informed about the operational status of USACE recreation areas nationwide.
The public can visit the website at USACE Lakes prior to visiting and click on any state for the current overall status of a recreation area and for the status of campgrounds, boat ramps and beaches owned and operated by USACE within the area. It shows areas as fully operational, partially open and closed. The site will be regularly updated with any status changes.
Within the Savannah District the only recreations sites closed are those affected by the damage caused by Hurricane Helene at J. Strom Thurmond Lake. The Hartwell Lake recreation status remains unchanged and has day use areas, camping, swimming and boating available. It is located approximately two hours north of J. Strom Thurmond Lake.
“The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers manages staffing for our Recreation mission to ensure we meet the needs of nearly 2,600 recreation areas across 400 lakes and waterways,” said Mr. Stephen L. Hill, USACE director of Operations and Regulatory Programs. “In response to current staffing levels, we have launched the Recreation Operational Status webpage to provide the public with the most current information available about the operational status of recreation areas before visiting.”
The USACE Districts are maximizing available staff resources to keep recreation sites at least partially open and to ensure full closure of any site is a last resort.
“Public safety and service quality continue to be our highest priorities. As we manage available resources, some sites may experience reduced operations or temporary closures. These difficult decisions are based on our ability to ensure visitors have a safe and consistent experience. These decisions are not made lightly because we understand the importance of USACE recreation areas to the public and their vacation plans, especially during the summer season.”
The Recreation Operational Status website does not include information about the status of state-, local- or vendor-operated parks, campgrounds, marinas or other facilities located on USACE project lands. The public will need to contact those facilities for information regarding their operating status.
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Release no. 25-020