The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is one of the nation’s leading federal providers of campgrounds, outdoor recreation with more than 400 lake and river projects in 43 states. Visitors of all ages can enjoy traditional activities like hiking, boating, fishing, camping and hunting, and for those slightly more adventurous there is snorkeling, windsurfing, whitewater rafting, mountain biking and geo-caching. Regardless of your favorite outdoor activity one thing is certain, recreation enriches people’s lives. A visit to an Army Corps of Engineers’ recreation area can strengthen family ties and friendships; create unforgettable memories and connect people to nature that will last a lifetime.
A Brief History of the Corps
George Washington appointed the first engineer officers of the Army on June 16, 1775, during the American Revolution, and engineers have served in combat in all subsequent American wars. The Army established the Corps of Engineers (Corps) as a separate, permanent branch on March 16, 1802, and gave the engineers responsibility for founding and operating the U.S. Military Academy at West Point.
From the beginning, many politicians wanted the Corps to contribute to both military construction and works “of a civil nature.” Throughout the 19th century, the Corps supervised the construction of coastal fortifications and mapped much of the American West with the Corps of Topographical Engineers, which enjoyed a separate existence for 25 years (1838-1863). The Corps of Engineers also constructed lighthouses, helped develop jetties and piers for harbors, and carefully mapped the navigation channels.
In the 20th century, the Corps became the lead federal flood control agency and significantly expanded its civil works activities, becoming among other things a major provider of hydroelectric energy and the country’s leading provider of recreation. Its role in responding to natural disasters also grew dramatically.
A full history of the Corps of Engineers can be found here.
In the late 1960s, the Corps became a leading environmental preservation and restoration agency. It now carries out natural and cultural resource management programs at its water resources projects and regulates activities in the Nation’s wetlands. In addition, the Corps assists the military services in environmental management and restoration at former and current military installations.
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Did you Know?
- USACE is one of the nation’s leading federal providers of outdoor recreation managing more than 400 lake and river projects in 43 states.
- USACE-managed waters provide 14 percent of all U.S. freshwater fishing.
- 28,550 volunteers work 1.50 million hours annually at USACE projects.
- Seven of the top 10 migratory bird flyways in the U.S. crossover USACE-managed waters.
- USACE is responsible for 12 million acres of public lands and waters nationwide.
- A visitor to USACE-managed recreation areas will find 41,184 miles of shoreline; 7,638 miles of trails; 94,524 campsites, and 3,739 boat ramps nationally.
For more facts on the USACE Recreation Program, please visit Fast Facts.
Corps of Engineers Campgrounds by State
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