Peace Garden News

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Kevin Cramer (R-ND) and Martin Heinrich (D-NM) announced growing support for the Lake Access Keeping Economies Strong (LAKES) Act, legislation they introduced to improve outdoor recreation facilities in U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE)-managed areas by providing opportunities for public-private investments and giving local districts more flexibility to reinvest their resources.

Senators Alex Padilla (D-CA), John Boozman (R-AR), Jon Tester (D-MT), and Steve Daines (R-MT) today joined the bill as co-sponsors.

“I appreciate the strong support the LAKES Act has already received and look forward to advancing the bill with my colleagues,” said Senator Cramer. “Because of discrepancies in federal law, managers of some of North Dakotans’ favorite outdoor recreation sites have to get approval from Washington to initiate operations and maintenance projects. And, unlike every other federal land management agency, the Army Corps cannot retain recreation fees at the sites where they’re collected. This makes no sense. Our bipartisan bill would keep resources and decision-making closer to home, while providing new opportunities for private investment in our recreation facilities.”

“I’m proud to welcome growing support for our bipartisan legislation that will make it possible for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to enter joint management partnerships with Tribes and nonprofits, and it ensures that recreation fees collected at Army Corps lakes stay in the community and actually go toward improving those facilities,” said Senator Heinrich. “These reforms will make a difference to New Mexican families enjoying a cookout at Santa Rosa Lake. They are critical to Abiquiu Lake’s role in managing our Rio Chama water. And they are essential to building partnerships with Tribes and nonprofits as we care for our federal outdoor spaces together.”

“California is home to 155 recreation areas managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, including two of the most frequented sites managed by the Corps in the country—the Sepulveda Dam and Prado Dam,” said Senator Padilla. “As a San Fernando Valley native, I know how important places like Hansen Dam are for outdoor recreation and park access. Allowing the Corps to retain revenues from recreation fees would allow the Corps, alongside State and local partners to, reinvest in our state’s active recreational facilities. Our bill would also allow non-profits to participate in the operation and upkeep of our recreational facilities and natural resources to help keep them accessible and safe for all who visit.”

“When outdoor enthusiasts spend money at a Corps recreation site in Arkansas or elsewhere, it is reasonable to expect reinvestment of those funds back into them to improve facilities and create additional opportunities in these treasured spaces,” said Senator Boozman. “This will help maintain and improve beloved facilities in The Natural State and continue attracting visitors for years to come.”

“Montana’s public lands and waters are critical to the thousands of jobs created by our state’s $7.1 billion outdoor economy, and I’ll always fight to ensure that federal fees collected in the Treasure State are used to keep it the Last Best Place,” said Senator Tester. “Places like Fort Peck Lake provide countless recreational and economic opportunities for Montana families, and it’s only right that the fees collected to access these waters are used to improve them. I’m proud to join my colleagues on both sides of the aisle in supporting this bill and am looking forward to getting it passed in the Senate.”

“Outdoor recreation is part of our Montana way of life," said Senator Daines. "Allowing local Army Corps sites greater control to invest recreation fees in boat ramp, dock and campsite maintenance and improvements will help protect and expand access to Montana’s lakes in order to support surrounding communities and allow Montanans to pass down an appreciation for the outdoors to future generations.”

Click the respective links for bill text, a one-pager, and to learn more about stakeholder endorsements. 

Background:

The USACE is one of the nation's largest federal outdoor recreation providers, managing nearly 257,000 facilities across 43 states. Under existing law, local USACE managers cannot retain recreation fee revenues collected onsite, an authority afforded to the U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, and National Parks Service.

The Challenge Cost Sharing Cooperative Management Program was created for participating agencies to split operation and management (O&M) expenses and responsibilities with eligible outside groups. However, the USACE is limited to partnering with non-federal public entities, despite most interest coming from private and nonprofit organizations.

To correct these issues, the LAKES Act would allow the USACE to:

• Retain 80% of recreation fees collected onsite for O&M at that location.
• Enter into cooperative agreements with local nonprofits.
• Handle partner-collected fees and return them to the partner jointly managing the recreation facility to reinvest onsite.

Original source can be found here.