Kansas City District News Releases

Temporary recreation area closures and service reductions begin May 15 across Kansas City District, USACE

Press Operations — Thu, 24 Apr 2025 12:58:51 GMT

The Kansas City District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will temporarily close or reduce services at recreation areas across Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska and Iowa beginning May 15, 2025. USACE is currently managing seasonal staffing and resource limitations that affect its ability to safely open and maintain all recreation sites at normal levels of service. These temporary adjustments are being made at all 18 Kansas City District lakes to ensure visitor safety, protect environmental resources and sustain critical hydropower and dam operations.

Army Corps of Engineers waives fees and invites volunteers to participate in National Public Lands Day, Sept. 28

Press Operations — Thu, 19 Sep 2024 19:51:43 GMT

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers announced today that it will waive day use fees normally charged at boat launch ramps and swimming beaches at its recreation areas nationwide in recognition of National Public Lands Day (NPLD) on Saturday, Sept. 28. The waiver does not apply to camping and camping-related services, or fees for specialized facilities such as group picnic shelters. Other agencies and partners that manage recreation areas located on USACE lands are encouraged, but not required, to comply with this waiver of day use fees in the areas they manage.

Annual Rathbun Lake fall release set for week of September 23

Press Operations — Tue, 10 Sep 2024 18:51:24 GMT

The Kansas City District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers recently sought public input regarding the Rathbun Lake annual fall release. The Kansas City District has carefully evaluated the release against public and stakeholder input, water available in storage, downstream conditions and weather forecasts. In consideration of these factors, the district has determined the fall release will occur the week of September 23, 2024.

USACE seeking public input on potential Rathbun Lake fall release

Press Operations — Tue, 30 Jul 2024 18:58:59 GMT

The Kansas City District, U.S Army Corps of Engineers is asking the public for input regarding the Rathbun Lake annual fall release. The Kansas City District will be accepting public input now until August 31, 2024.

Officials planning to conduct one-day test release at Rathbun Lake

Press Operations — Mon, 26 Feb 2024 14:27:00 GMT

Officials plan to conduct a one-day test release from Rathbun Lake later this spring. As part of the detailed design process for the Rathbun Lake Fisheries Section 1135 project, the information gathered during the test will assist in the design of critical project components aimed at reducing the outward migration of adult walleye and other fish species. This test release will allow measurements to be performed near the tower and the measurements will map water velocity around the intake structure. Testing will take place once the lake elevation raises to 905.0 feet. The lake is currently at an elevation of 902.89 feet. The release will be increased from low flow of 11 cubic feet per second to 3,000 cubic feet per second. Water will be released in 500 cubic feet per second hourly increments up to 3,000 cubic feet per second.

Rathbun Lake holds joint emergency preparedness exercise

Press Operations — Thu, 01 Feb 2024 14:28:35 GMT

Officials held an emergency preparedness tabletop exercise at Rathbun Lake in Centerville, Iowa, on Jan. 23, 2024, to showcase the joint emergency preparedness between local, state and federal agencies in the area. The tabletop exercise was coordinated and led by the Kansas City District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and focused on the communication and coordination efforts during operational releases or an extreme, rare flood event. During the exercise, USACE emphasized that it regularly assesses the conditions and risks associated with Rathbun Dam, along with its other civil works projects.

Fall release from Rathbun Lake to the Chariton River Basin not anticipated

Press Operations — Wed, 20 Sep 2023 15:30:07 GMT

Conditions are unfavorable for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to conduct a fall release, also known as flushing flow releases, due to the current pool elevation of 903.4 feet at Rathbun Lake, which is more than half a foot below multipurpose level, as of September 19, 2023. Releases this fall are not anticipated.

USACE seeking public input on potential Rathbun Lake fall release

Press Operations — Mon, 31 Jul 2023 16:16:11 GMT

Let us know what you think about a potential Rathbun Lake, Iowa, fall release. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Kansas City District, is asking the public for input regarding the Rathbun Lake annual fall release by August 31, 2023.

$8.35 million agreement signed for aquatic ecosystem restoration work at Rathbun Lake, Iowa

Press Operations — Thu, 16 Mar 2023 18:19:03 GMT

Yesterday, a signing of the Project Partnership Agreement for aquatic ecosystem restoration work at Rathbun Lake, Iowa, was executed between the Iowa Department of Natural Resources and the Kansas City District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. This agreement will begin aquatic ecosystem restoration design and construction work at Rathbun Lake, Iowa, under Section 1135 of the Water Resources Development Act of 1986. USACE has been working with the Iowa DNR over the past several years to determine feasibility and develop a conceptual design for this project. The signing of the PPA paves the way for the $8.35 million on-ground execution of this design effort.

USACE Rathbun Lake seeks public comment on draft Master Plan: public meeting scheduled for Nov. 15

Press Operations — Thu, 13 Oct 2022 16:03:10 GMT

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers or USACE, Kansas City District, has prepared a draft Master Plan for Rathbun Lake with an Environmental Assessment and a Finding of No Significant Impact – known as a FONSI - that are available for public review. USACE is soliciting public comments on the draft Master Plan, Environmental Assessment and FONSI during a 60-day review period that opens Oct. 11, 2022, and will close Dec. 10, 2022. A public meeting will be held on Nov. 15, 2022, from 3-6 p.m. at the Rathbun Regional Water Association Water Treatment Plant, 16166 Highway J29, Centerville, IA.

USACE Kansas City District announces likely cancellation of fall water release from Rathbun Lake

Press Operations — Mon, 19 Sep 2022 18:28:00 GMT

Unless conditions improve by the end of the first week of October, the fall water release previously announced by the Kansas City District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, will be cancelled. In July USACE announced tentative plans to perform the fall water release at Rathbun Lake. Currently conditions do not favor the water release as the pool elevation is near the multipurpose level of 904.0 feet.

USACE announces planned fall release from Rathbun Lake on Chariton watershed

Press Operations — Tue, 26 Jul 2022 19:55:50 GMT

The public is invited to comment on the Rathbun Lake fall release as permitted in the revised 2016 Rathbun Lake Water Control Manual. The fall release will occur likely between the last week of September through early October 2022. The release of water will not exceed 2,700 cubic feet per second from Rathbun Reservoir and would be on-going for no longer than three or four days, excluding the ramp up and ramp down.

Rathbun Lake 2021 fall water release likely to be cancelled

Press Operations — Tue, 21 Sep 2021 20:05:14 GMT

At present, Rathbun pool elevation is about half a foot above multipurpose 904.0 feet. Current conditions at Rathbun Lake appear to be unfavorable for the U.S. Army of Corps of Engineers to conduct a fall water release in either late September or early October 2021.

Officials invite public comment on Rathbun Lake fall releases

Press Operations — Fri, 30 Jul 2021 14:36:34 GMT

Kansas City District waiving collection of day use fees for October & November

Press Operations — Wed, 30 Sep 2020 16:59:00 GMT

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Kansas City District, announced today that it will waive the collection of fees at its day use recreation areas for the months of October and November. Fee collections were suspended earlier this year at boat ramps and swimming beaches when recreation areas were closed due to COVID-19 precautions. USACE plans to resume its day use fees in the spring of 2021.

Fall releases from Rathbun Lake unlikely this season

Press Operations — Thu, 17 Sep 2020 18:59:00 GMT

CENTERVILLE, IA - Present conditions at Rathbun Lake appear to be unfavorable for the U.S. Army of Corps Engineers to conduct a fall water release this year as the pool elevation is currently below the multipurpose level, 904.0 feet. To provide a fall release for the benefit of state and privately managed conservation and recreational areas in the Chariton watershed downstream of Rathbun Lake, the pool elevation needs to be at 905.6 feet or above to have adequate water storage to conduct the fall water release. In addition, the weather forecast for the next 7 days shows little to no precipitation which contributes to the low probability for a fall water release.

Public invited to comment on planned autumn releases from Rathbun Lake

Press Operations — Fri, 31 Jul 2020 13:34:00 GMT

In 2016 in response to stakeholder input, the Corps of Engineers revised its operating guidance for Rathbun Lake. The new guidance allows for an annual opportunity, every autumn, for the lake to schedule a release of water to benefit state and privately managed conservation and recreational areas downstream in the Chariton watershed. This release of water will not exceed 2,700 cubic feet per second from Rathbun Dam and would be sustained for no longer than 3 or 4 days, excluding ramp up and ramp down.

Dam Safety Day recognized in Kansas City District

Press Operations — Fri, 29 May 2020 19:12:11 GMT

Living with dams is a shared responsibility and requires constant assessment, continuous communication and engagement with local public and emergency management agencies. The Kansas City District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, operates and manages 18 dams in Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska, and Iowa. Flood control serves as the primary purpose of these dams. Corps reservoirs provide many other benefits including recreation activities.

Corps’ Kansas City District campsite and shelter reservation closures extended through 1 June

Press Operations — Fri, 24 Apr 2020 14:20:00 GMT

Due to the ongoing concerns related to the spread of COVID-19, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Kansas City District has extended its recreation area closures through June 1, 2020.

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers publishes request for comment on proposed revision to regulation governing possession of firearms

Press Operations — Tue, 14 Apr 2020 12:33:14 GMT

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) today published in the Federal Register a request for comments on a proposed revision to its regulation governing the possession and transportation of firearms at USACE-managed Water Resources Development Projects.