Louisville-- Rains have impacted U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Louisville District, recreation areas in Kentucky with some campgrounds, boat ramps and day-use areas partially or completely closed.

“We are asking visitors who have reserved day-use areas or with questions about walk-in campsite availability during the next few weeks to call the local lake Corps office to see if the rains have impacted these reservations,” said Denise Rouse, Natural Resources Management Specialist, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. 

Customers who have camping reservations that must be cancelled, or potentially moved to an open campsite, due to high water levels will be notified directly by the National Recreation Reservation Service.

To check availability for future reservations, visitors can call the National Recreation Reservation Service Customer Service line at 1-888-448-1474 or visit www.recreation.gov.

Reservations will be accepted for sites beyond May 12, but this date could change as additional rains move through the area and additional recreation areas are impacted.

Lake levels and other information for the Corps lakes can be found at this web address:
http://www.lrl.usace.army.mil/opto

The Corps operates 16 campgrounds in Kentucky. Campsites operated by other agencies at Corps lakes in Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky may be impacted by high water levels. Visitors can contact the respective offices to see if state-operated facilities are impacted.

Lake visitors are also reminded to be safety-minded when visiting the lakes. Debris in the lakes will be increased from the high water levels. The Corps reminds visitors to wear life jackets.  Recreational activities may be discouraged based on the high water levels.

The Louisville District has 20 reservoirs, eight in Kentucky, eight in Indiana, and four in Ohio. The flood damage reduction projects, in conjunction with levees, floodwalls and locally-maintained protection projects, have prevented more than $5 billion in damages since construction. The lakes also provide recreation opportunities to more than 20 million visitors annually. More than one million visitors come to district locks and dams annually, some to camp or fish. The visitors provide state economies more than $500 million per year.