30 Sep 2020

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

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.

17 Sep 2020

Fall releases from Rathbun Lake unlikely this season

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. 

2 Sep 2020

Don’t end this summer as a number

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – As we close out the warm summer months this Labor Day weekend the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Kansas City District encourages you to not end this summer as a statistic and to practice water safety this weekend. We urge visitors to be vigilant, understand the importance of water safety and to expect the unexpected in and around the water.

14 Aug 2020

Corps announces temporary closure at Tuttle Creek Cove Park

MANHATTAN, Kan. – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Kansas City District, has awarded a contract at Tuttle Creek Lake to K & K Industries, Inc., Junction City, Kan. for repair of the Tuttle Creek Cove Park in Riley County, Kan. The Tuttle Creek Cove Park area was significantly damaged during the 2019 flood events. The contracted work will repair the utility camping loops and access roads to the boat launch and day use facilities. Construction activities are expected to take approximately 9 months to complete with a goal to reopen the park by May 1, 2021.

31 Jul 2020

Public invited to comment on planned autumn releases from Rathbun Lake

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.

20 Jul 2020

Camp Branch swim beach closed at Smithville Lake for precautionary measure

KANSAS CITY, Mo. –The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Kansas City District identified a potential toxic blue green algae bloom at Smithville Lake near Camp Branch swim beach. As a precautionary measure, Camp Branch swim beach, managed by Clay County Parks, Recreation and Historic Sites, is closed until additional test results are obtained.

9 Jul 2020

Army Corps of Engineers reports an increase in adult drowning at its lake and river projects this summer

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers announced today that more than 30 people lost their lives to drowning in June at lake and river projects the agency manages. The June statistics represent a 47 percent increase in drownings over the same time period last year. USACE also reported that nearly all the drowning victims were adult males between the ages of 18 and 85 and were not wearing a life jacket at the time of the drowning.

1 Jul 2020

Corps of Engineers provides safety tips for Independence Day weekend

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - As the nation's largest federal provider of water-based recreation, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Kansas City District stresses water safety and urges extra caution while in or around water during the upcoming Independence Day holiday.

29 May 2020

Dam Safety Day recognized in Kansas City District

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.

20 May 2020

Corps provides safety tips for Memorial Day weekend

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Water is one of the premier destinations for Memorial Day weekend and with that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Kansas City District’s 18 lakes see a huge increase in visitors. We value the safety of our visitors and want each and every individual to have a safe and enjoyable experience this holiday weekend and encourage everyone to think about these five recreation safety tips this Memorial Day weekend: