WASHINGTON – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) announced that it will waive day use fees at its more than 2,400 USACE-operated recreation areas nationwide in recognition of National Public Lands Day on Sept. 28. On this day, fees normally charged at boat launch ramps and swimming beaches will be waived.
The Rock Island District of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is participating in this national event. Day use fees are being waived at the District’s reservoir projects in the Des Moines, Iowa, area at Lake Red Rock and Saylorville Lake. At Lake Red Rock the waivers apply at the Whitebreast and North Overlook beaches; and the South Overlook, Wallaschuck, Marina Cove, Howell Station and Whitebreast boat ramps. At Saylorville Lake, fees are waived at the Lakeview and Sandpiper boat ramps.
Coralville Lake, the District’s reservoir project near Iowa City, Iowa, is also participating. Fees are waived at Sandy Beach, Sugarbottom and West Overlook beaches; and Sandy Beach, Mehaffey Bridge and West Overlook boat ramps.
In addition to the reservoirs, day use fees will be waived at the District’s recreation areas along the Mississippi River. Those areas are: Blanding Landing, Pleasant Creek, Big Slough, Thomson Causeway, Cattail Slough, Clark's Ferry, Lock and Dam 13 and Shady Creek boat ramps.
The waiver does not apply to camping and camping-related services, or fees for specialized facilities such as group picnic shelters.
USACE has been involved with National Public Lands Day since its inception in 1994. As the nation’s leading federal provider of outdoor and water-based recreation, USACE manages 422 lake and river projects in 43 states.
To locate National Public Lands Day events near you, visit http://www.publiclandsday.org/. For more information about Rock Island District participation in National Public Lands Day, call the Mississippi River Visitor Center at (309) 794-5338, Saylorville Lake at (515) 276-4656, Lake Red Rock at (641) 828-7522, and Coralville Lake at (319) 338-3543.
For more information on USACE recreation opportunities visit www.CorpsLakes.us.