BALTIMORE — The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Baltimore District, has extended the date of how long their owned and operated lakes can temporarily remain open to October 14. This is an extension from the original projected date of October 7. This means that their projects throughout the Susquehanna and Potomac River Basins can continue full operations for another week despite a lapse in federal funding. Corps-operated campgrounds and day-use areas will remain open during this time and all reservations will be honored.
If the lack of an appropriations bill continues, the District will reevaluate its remaining funds weekly to determine which projects can continue to operate and for how long. The following recreation parks will remain open:
• Pennsylvania: Raystown Lake, Tioga-Hammond and Cowanesque Lakes, Alvin R. Bush Dam, Aylesworth Creek Lake, Foster J. Sayers Dam, and Stillwater Lake.
• New York: Almond Lake, East Sidney Lake, and Whitney Point Lake.
• Maryland and West Virginia: Jennings Randolph Lake.
Please note that recreation areas operated and maintained by non-federal entities will stay open throughout the federal shutdown since they are not federally funded. The Baltimore District has various agreements where Corps-owned property is managed by city, county, or state governments, and/or private individuals. There are nine properties in two states that fall into this category:
• New York: Kanakadea Park, East Sidney Lake and Dorchester Park.
• Pennsylvania: Bald Eagle State Park, Kettle Creek State Park, Aylesworth Park, Curwensville Lake, Lake Raystown Resort and Seven Points Marina.
Once Baltimore District expends their Fiscal 2013 budget funds, only staff essential to public health and safety, such as dam operations and emergency response readiness, and those necessary for the management of ongoing construction projects, will continue to work.
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