ST. LOUIS – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers announced that it will waive day use fees at its more than 2,850 USACE-operated recreation areas nationwide in observance of Veterans Day, November 11. The fee waiver not only applies to the St. Louis District’s five multipurpose reservoirs Carlyle Lake, Rend Lake, Lake Shelbyville, Wappapello Lake and Mark Twain Lake, but to all Corps of Engineers day-use areas nation-wide where visitors would normally be charged a fee.
The waiver covers fees for boat launch ramps and swimming beaches. The waiver does not apply to camping and camping-related services, or fees for specialized facilities (group picnic shelters) and events. Other agencies that manage recreation areas on USACE lands are encouraged, but not required, to offer the waiver in the areas that they manage.
Visitors are encouraged to contact USACE lake and river projects before visiting to ensure recreation areas are open. More information can be found at www.corpslakes.us
USACE began the Veterans Day fee waiver in 2006 to honor the men and women who have served our nation and the armed forces.
USACE also offers other fee-free days throughout the year to mark days of celebration and commemoration, including Martin Luther King, Jr. Day; USACE birthday; Juneteenth National Independence Day; and National Public Lands Day.
The Corps of Engineers is one of the leading federal providers of outdoor and water-based recreation, hosting millions of visits annually to its more than 400 lake and river projects. It’s estimated that 90 percent of the USACE-operated recreation areas are within 50 miles of metropolitan areas, offering diverse outdoor activities for all ages close to home.
With more than 2,000 miles of shoreline and more than 416,000 acres of public lands and water, the St. Louis District hosts more than 17 million visitors annually at its five multi-purpose reservoirs and two river projects.
For more information about St. Louis District recreation visit: http://www.mvs.usace.army.mil/Missions/Recreation/. To discover a Corps of Engineers recreation site nearest you, please visit www.corpslakes.us, or www.recreation.gov.
