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Corps of Engineers Reducing Services at Dworshak Sites by Eric Barker Lewiston Tribune, October 9, 2011

The agency has closed restrooms at some lower Snake River sites west of the Lewiston-Clarkston Valley.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will rely on volunteers and dramatically reduce services to keep many of its recreation sites open, including Dent Acres Campground on Dworshak Reservoir.

The agency's Walla Walla District is facing a 9 percent cut in its recreation budget and will close some of its sites, convert others to day use only and eliminate services such as trash collection and bathroom cleaning.

"Our primary recreation mandate is to maintain access to water-based recreation areas, and we'll continue to do that to the best of our abilities. Unfortunately, we're at the point where we have to reduce services, shorten seasons and mothball facilities to stay within our budget," District Commander Lt. Col. David Caldwell said.

The money-saving measures won't affect any of the agency's sites along the Snake River in the Lewiston-Clarkston Valley. But other sites on the lower Snake River and on Dworshak Reservoir will feel the pinch.

Paul Pence, manager of Dworshak Reservoir, said people will no longer be able to make reservations at Dent Acres and a contract for grounds maintenance has been eliminated. The agency is seeking six volunteer couples to run the park. Without that help, camping at places like Canyon Creek and restrooms at Merry's Bay and Bruce's Eddy would close.

Boat ramps would remain open, even if other services are ended.

Nine of the 82 minicamps around the reservoir have already been removed, and Pence said restroom cleaning services at another 25 of the mostly boat-access-only camps will be provided only during summer.

Funding for a contract with the Clearwater County Sheriff's Office will likely be reduced and could lead to fewer marine patrols on the reservoir.

Pence said the agency considered closing Dent, but he convinced his supervisors to attempt to operate the park with volunteers and allow him the flexibility to pull services from other areas around the 55-mile-long lake.

Funding has been on the decline, and Dworshak's recreation budget will take a $168,000 hit in fiscal year 2012 that starts in October.

The entire district that spans an area from the Tri-Cities in Washington to Lucky Peak Reservoir near Boise is facing a $669,000 reduction in recreation funding. Pence said the agency has been trimming the fat at the reservoir for several years. A student ranger program was eliminated and two full-time ranger positions were reduced to part time. Other open positions have remained unfilled.

The agency has closed restrooms at some lower Snake River sites west of the Lewiston-Clarkston Valley.

Lyons Ferry, shuttered since last year, remains closed as officials seek a private contractor to operate the park. Central Ferry, also on the Snake, will stay closed.