Army Corps of Engineers cancels campground reservations from March 23 to May 15 to protect employees, visitors

Southwestern Division
Published March 19, 2020
Updated: March 19, 2020

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Southwestern Division announce campground reservation cancellations in Kansas, Missouri, Arkansas, Oklahoma and Texas in response to the coronavirus. 

The cancellations will not affect those campers already at the campgrounds.

USACE campgrounds that are currently open will honor active reservations through Sunday, March 22. Individuals with reservations on or before March 22 will be able to camp for the entirety of their reservation. No new reservations will be accepted after March 22.

No new campers will be accepted at first-come, first-serve campsites effective Thursday, March 19.

Campground reservations scheduled between March 23 and May 15 will be cancelled. Refunds will be provided through Recreation One-Stop (1-877-444-6777 or recreation.gov). Reservations after May 15 will be reevaluated at a future date.

These measures are in addition to operational changes the Southwestern Division announced earlier this week.

Those changes included:

  • All USACE sponsored events, tournaments, volunteer activities and public meetings are cancelled until further notice.
  • Special event or activity permits will not be issued; those permits that have already been granted will be considered for revocation based on the Center for Disease Control’s guidelines.
  • Visitor centers and lake offices are closed to the public until further notice.
  • Campgrounds that are currently closed will not reopen until further notice.
  • Day use facilities, such as group shelters, are subject to evolving conditions and may not be available. Please call the local project for the latest information.
  • Corps of Engineers personnel will no longer conduct site visits that require personal interactions for shoreline management activities until further notice.

These changes, officials said, are being made in an abundance of caution and to protect guests, volunteers and staff.

Guests planning to visit USACE lakes for any reason are encouraged to call the lake project office before planning their trip to obtain site-specific closures, such as parks and boat ramps.

Officials urge anyone visiting a USACE lake to follow the CDC’s guidelines regarding social distancing and remain diligent. CDC guidelines and more information can be found at www.conoravirus.gov.

The Southwestern Division is the second largest provider of recreational opportunities in the Army Corps of Engineers. Lake-specific recreation information can be found at the Fort Worth District webpage and www.swf.usace.army.mil; the Galveston District webpage at www.swg.usace.army.mil; the Little Rock District webpage at www.swl.usace.army.mil and the Tulsa District webpage at www.swt.usace.army.mil.


Release no. 20-002