The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Kansas City District, announced temporary closures and reductions of service at a Kansas park and two Kansas information centers.
The regional office, which oversees a region that includes Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska and Iowa, said the closure is in response to seasonal staffing shortages and resource limitations that affect its ability to safely open and maintain its recreation sites.
Adjustments are also being made at all 18 of the lakes in the Kansas City District’s lakes to “ensure visitor safety, protect environmental resources and sustain critical hydropower and dam operations.”
“We recognize closures of recreation areas and visitor centers are disruptive, but the Kansas City District is committed to providing safe, quality recreation opportunities and facilities for our visitors. We sincerely appreciate the public’s understanding as we navigate various challenges,” said Kansas City District commander Col. Andrew Niewohner.
Minooka Park near Dorrance won’t offer overnight stays during the 2025 season. Hillsdale Lake Information Center in Miami County and Kanopolis Lake Information Center in Ellsworth County will be closed to the public.
The district said its other sites are likely to be impacted by reduced staffing and fewer resources as well.
The Hillsdale Lake Park Information Center will be closed to the public. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers said it’s due to staffing shortages and “resource limitations.”
What is the Army Corps of Engineers?
The Army Corps of Engineers consists of 37,000 workers, 97% of which are civilians. It builds structures to help in combat zones but also does civil engineering projects maintains critical infrastructure.
Nearly 70% of good consumed by Americans go through a deep water port maintained by the Corps of Engineers, it controls 609 dams and operates 75 hydroelectric facilities.
Through the Clean Water Act, some of the dams and reservoirs overseen by the corps are used as recreation facilities.
Agency says closures not DOGE-related
The Department of Government Efficiency, an initiative spearheaded by billionaire Elon Musk tasked with cutting federal spending, has closed Army Corps of Engineers Offices in Florida, Illinois and South Carolina, but the Kansas City District said no employee has been terminated due to DOGE cuts.
“As of April 24, we can verify that no employee of the Kansas City District has been terminated due to DOGE cuts. In a resource-constrained environment, USACE is facing difficult decisions about limiting operations at certain recreation areas due to staffing shortfalls, or potentially closing them altogether,” an unsigned email from the ACE-Kansas City District public affairs office said.
Several other regional offices released similar messages about scaling back or temporarily closing recreational facilities. The Army Corps of Engineers urged people planning to visit one of its sites to confirm it’s still in operation beforehand, and that it could increase traffic at its sites that remain open.
“This may create more demand to fewer areas or facilities where access is provided,” ACE-Kansas City District public affairs office said. “Kansas City District lake projects are using all available staff, contractors, volunteers and partner agencies to meet the demands of the public and the land and water resources.”
This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: Kansas recreational sites scaling back operations due to staff issues