ADVOCACY
The Corps Foundation helps the USACE Natural Resources management Community by advocating for them. Here is the latest:
Please Contact Legislators Immediately
Alert!
We Need Your Support! Corps Foundation Announces LAKES Act Legislation!
The Corps Foundation is thrilled to announce the proposed LAKES Act with bipartisan support! Senators Kevin Cramer (R-ND) and Martin Heinrich (D-NM) introduced the Lakes Access Keeping Economies Strong legislation that’s building support everyday.
This bipartisan bill would improve outdoor recreation facilities in U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE)-managed areas, provide new opportunities for public-private investments, and give local districts more flexibility to reinvest their resources.
Specifically, the LAKES Act will include authority for the US Army Corps of Engineers to retain up to 80% of recreation use fees to be reinvested directly to the Corps project where the fees were collected. This gives local managers the flexibility to repair infrastructure and complete maintenance with funds already paid by the visiting public. This long awaited authority will allow the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to join other Federal land management agencies such as the National Park Service, Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management in retaining recreation fees.
Many non-profit organizations would like to do more to jointly operate recreation projects managed by the Corps, but current authorities do not allow it. The LAKES Act gives that authority to the Corps to share management responsibilities with local organizations and to use collected fees to pay for the reinvestment.
There is still work to do! Contact your Senator and Congressional representative to encourage their support for America’s lakes and waterways managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and specifically mention the LAKES Act.