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OLDTOWN — U.S. Army Corps of Engineers officials announced reduced services and one temporary closure at USACE-managed facilities on Lake Pend Oreille and the Pend Oreille River for the upcoming summer season.
The Albeni Cove and Priest River Recreation Areas, which open May 17, are reducing janitorial services this season. Springy Point Recreation Area is closing for this season effective May 10, with those with reservations to receive full refunds.
USACE decided to close and reduce services at several areas with visitor safety and resource protection as top priorities, citing limited natural resource management staff. According to a USACE news release, these limitations impact routine maintenance, sanitary conditions and emergency response capabilities essential for a “positive and safe” visitor experience.
Any unforeseen major maintenance can result in closures due to a lack of adequate staffing. All interpretation, public outreach events and water safety education activities are cancelled, affecting almost 5,000 visitors. USACE estimates the 450,000 visitors who recreate at USACE-managed facilities around Lake Pend Oreille generate over $17 million in the local economy.
USACE is working to address staffing challenges and aims to reopen affected campgrounds as soon as it can do so “safely and effectively,” according to the news release. For the latest site-specific updates, check local recreation areas’ websites by searching www.recreation. gov and follow USACE on social media.
