Corps will honor new America the Beautiful Federal Recreation Annual Pass for Military; new service member benefit found at seven Walla Walla District recreation sites

Published May 17, 2012

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) will begin accepting the America the Beautiful Federal Recreation Pass Program’s new Interagency Annual Pass for Military (Military Pass) at its more than 2,500 USACE-managed recreation areas nationwide.

Beginning on Armed Forces Day on May 19, service men and women - Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard, and activated National Guard and Reserves, and their dependents who present the new Military Pass will receive a fee waiver to USACE-managed day-use areas (boat launches and swimming areas). The Military Pass, which is free, may be obtained in person at U.S. Forest Service, National Park Service, Bureau of Reclamation, Bureau of Land Management and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service facilities. Additional information on the Federal Recreation Pass Program is available at http://store.usgs.gov/pass/annual.html.

Military members and their dependents may also present a Department of the Defense Identification Card or Common Access Card (CAC) to receive the day-use fee waiver at USACE-managed day-use areas.

In a separate effort, USACE will continue to waive camping fees for active duty military members and their dependents on mid- or post-deployment leave. To qualify for a camping fee waiver at a USACE-managed campground, a member or dependent must present the new Military Pass or CAC and a copy of their mid- or post-deployment (reintegration) leave orders. Camping fees are waived on a walk-up and space available basis, as well as for reservations made through the National Recreation Reservation Service call center at 1-877-444-6777. However, fees will not be waived for online reservations made through the online Recreation.gov website.

Acceptance of USACE fee waivers is encouraged, but not required, at the more than 1,800 nationwide recreation areas managed by other entities on USACE lands.

Within the Corps’ Walla Walla District, there are two boat launches five campgrounds where the new America the Beautiful military pass and camping-fee waiver benefits apply for service members: campgrounds at Hood, Charbonneau and Fishhook parks on the Snake River near Burbank, Wash.; Dent Acres campground on Dworshak Reservoir near Ahsahka, Idaho; Macks Creek campground, and boat ramps at Turner Gulch and Barclay Bay on Lucky Peak Lake near Boise, Idaho.

Walla Walla District’s civil works boundaries include the entire Snake River Basin and part of the mid-Columbia River area -- district natural resource specialists manage more than 14,600 acres of recreation lands which attract more than 8 million visitors each year. To find a Walla Walla District recreation area near you, visit our website at www.nww.usace.army.mil and click on the “Recreation” tab.

"Our military service members and their families sacrifice so much for our country. The waiver of day-use fees at USACE lakes and recreation areas will make it easier and more affordable for them to get to the great outdoors with their families and relax," said Maj. Gen. Michael J. Walsh, USACE Deputy Commanding General for Civil and Emergency Operations.

USACE is the nation’s largest federal provider of outdoor recreation, managing more than 400 lake and river projects in 43 states and hosting more than 370 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 and to people of all ages. For more information on USACE recreation sites and activities, visit www.CorpsLakes.us.

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Release no. 12-45