Washington (June 8, 2017) – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) announced today that it will conduct visitor surveys this summer at six of its lake projects nationwide.

Beginning June 10 and extending through September 10, 2017, visitors exiting 24 designated USACE-managed recreation facilities that are part of the six lake projects will be asked about their length of stay and overall experience. Surveys will take place at Beaver Lake in Arkansas; Saylorville and Red Rock lakes in Iowa; and Nolin, Barren River and Green River lakes in Kentucky.  Participation in the survey is voluntary. 

“The visitor survey will give us vital baseline information, which we will use for budgeting and planning purposes,” said Mary Coulombe, chief of USACE Natural Resources Management Office.  “We want to learn more about our visitors’ recreation habits to better plan for new trends in the ways our guests spend their leisure time at our parks. The findings will also help USACE ensure that the recreation facilities at our lakes are operating efficiently to maximize visitor outdoor opportunities and enjoyment.”

Interns from the Student Conservation Association will conduct the visitor interviews. The Office of Management and Budget approved the survey with control number 0710-0020. 

USACE routinely conducts visitor interviews at its lake and river projects in an effort to gauge visitors’ experiences and concerns.

USACE is one of the nation’s leading providers of outdoor recreation opportunities, managing more than 400 lake and river projects in 43 states and hosting about 250 million visits per year. With 90 percent of these recreation areas within 50 miles of metropolitan areas, they provide a diverse range of outdoor activities close to home for people of all ages.

For more information on the survey and USACE recreation opportunities, visit www.corpslakes.us/VisitorSurvey.

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