The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Tulsa District will temporarily close or reduce services at recreation areas across Kansas and Oklahoma for the 2025 recreation season.
According to a press release issued by the District, the USACE does not currently have the staffing to maintain all recreation sites at normal levels of service. These temporary adjustments will affect select areas to ensure visitor safety and prompt availability for executing flood risk management responsibilities.
While the impacts of temporarily closing these facilities will be felt by the public, their goal is to provide safe and sustainable recreation experiences.
If you have made reservations for camping at any of the closed parks you will automatically be issued a full refund in 4 to 6 weeks. If you would like to check on the status, call Recreation.gov at 877-444-6777.
• Reservations will be cancelled and fully refunded starting May 15 – June 3 at the parks listed in this release.
• Cancellations will occur in 14-day increments with the next cycle occurring June 4 17, and so forth.
• The objective is to reopen parks at the earliest opportunity while minimizing impacts to the public.
While impacts will be seen at all 38 Tulsa District lakes, there will be impacts at some local lakes, including the following:
• Eufaula
• Fort Supply
• Keystone
• Sardis • Skiatook
• Tenkiller
• Webbers Falls
• Robert S. Kerr
• Little San Bois Creek – temporary closure (all park – closed)
• Cowlington Point – temporary closure (Winter loop – closed) “We understand these temporary closures will disrupt plans and we sincerely appreciate the public’s flexibility.” said Jamie Hyslop, chief of the Natural Resources and Recreation Branch. “We will continue to monitor conditions throughout the season and concentrate our resources so we can better maintain high quality service at priority locations.”
Additional closures may be required in the future, contingent upon staff availability, workload and visitation levels. USACE is committed to resuming full services when conditions allow.
A full list of closures can be found at https:// www.swt.usace.army. To find a Corps facility that is open, visit https:// corpslakes.erdc.dren.
Following the announcement of the temporary impacts, the Oklahoma Tourism & Recreational Department also issued a press release: “Oklahoma’s state parks are open for business. With 10 distinct ecoregions, Oklahoma State Parks offer premier outdoor recreation opportunities throughout our 38 state parks. From RV camping to hiking and boating, there is something for everyone.
“In light of the recent announcement from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers regarding temporary closures and reduced services at some recreation areas across Oklahoma for the 2025 season, the Oklahoma Department of Tourism and Recreation wants to reassure the public that the USACE closures do not impact Oklahoma State Parks.
“Our parks will continue normal operations and will only close in the event of flooding or other safety concerns. As always, we encourage visitors to check current lake levels and park conditions before heading out to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience.”
