Press Releases

Mobile District Extends Campground Reservation Cancellations to May 31

Published May 12, 2020

MOBILE, Ala. – With the ongoing presence of COVID-19 still a public health and safety concern to federal operations across the region, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Mobile District announced today that several of our federal recreation areas will be extending campground reservation cancellations through Sunday, May 31. The recreation areas parks in question are:

  • Walter F. George Lake and Lake George W. Andrews
  • Lake Seminole and Jim Woodruff Lock & Dam
  • Alabama Rivers and Lakes
  • Black Warrior and Tombigbee Lakes
  • Okatibbee Lake
  • Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway

We understand that as the summer recreation season approaches, this latest update on the ongoing COVID-19 emergency comes as a disappointment to many. However, the Corps' highest priority — as we demonstrate each year with our aggressive water safety campaign and training programs — is the health and safety of the visiting public, and the safety of our staff and volunteers. The ongoing impacts of COVID-19 are no less of a public safety concern to USACE, and we appreciate the public's understanding as we move, with caution, back to eventual normal operations.

The reopening of our recreation areas will be dependent on local conditions as measured by data and trend lines collected by local, state and national public health resources. We will continue to monitor each recreation area and reopen when conditions warrant. Please note that the COVID-19 emergency is not yet over, potentially necessitating further change to the campground reservation availability at a later date. Recreation area visitors wishing to use our campgrounds should check our recreation area Facebook pages regularly for up-to-date information on campground reservations, or call the recreation area project office of your choice.

Visitors with reservations at campgrounds that have been closed will receive full refunds automatically processed with no cancellation fees. There is no need contact the reservation center to request a refund. If you have a reservation at a campground you know has closed and you have not received a refund, please wait 10 business days after the start date of your reservation for the refund to be received. If you still have not received a refund, please contact the USACE lake or river project you were scheduled to visit, or fill out the “contact us” form at recreation.gov/contact-us.

While our visitor centers, campgrounds, beaches and special events are not currently open, certain water and land access areas remain accessible to the public, including:

  • Boat Launches
  • Nature Trails
  • Viewing Areas

These sites are being kept accessible to the extent possible allowing for public safety, but all USACE recreation area facilities remain subject to closure as conditions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic emergency continue to evolve.

For more information, contact any USACE Mobile District at 251-690-2505 or any of its recreation sites at sam.usace.army.mil/Missions/Civil-Works/Recreation/

Also, follow USACE Mobile District and its recreation sites on Facebook for the latest updates on accessible areas and updates re-openings:

 

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Contact
Public Affairs
(251) 690-2505
CESAM-PA@usace.army.mil

Release no. 20-022