Also the Corps of Engineers has been successful on the majority

of its projects in arranging for construction and maintenance by nonFederal interests of substantial basic facilities and additional recreational improvements through investments which greatly exceed the costs incurred by the Federal Government for this purpose. As of June 1959, the Federal first cost investment in public use areas to provide for access and use of 151 major reservoir projects of the Corps of Engineers for recreational purposes was approximately $15 About one-half of this investment was for roads and parking in the public use areas. The additional investment by State and local agencies on Federally-owned public use areas at these projects was approximately $26 million and the further investment by non-Federal agencies for recreational purposes on non-Federal lands and by concessionaires amounted to approximately $110 million.

million.

IV BASIC FACILITIES PROVIDED BY THE CORPS OF ENGINEERS. Master Plans. In the initial stage of planning for construction of an authorized project, the Corps of Engineers, in consultation with all interested State and local agencies, prepares a Master Plan for guidance of recreational development of the project for public use. This Master Plan delineates the areas that should be used for specific purposes and indicates the facilities that will be required taking into consideration the potentialities of the resources of the project and the anticipated need at each site. Insofar as practicable,

this plan designates the lands that should be made available to others for recreational development and the agencies that should be responsible

70856 0-61-pt. 1-3

for administration of lands for recreational use including con

struction, operation and maintenance of facilities and improvements.

In developing this plan, the Corps encourages, and seeks to

J

arrange for State and local governmental agencies to assume full

responsibility for administration of any part of project lands available for public recreational use, thereby relieving the Federal Government of responsibility for providing all or some of the basic facilities to permit use of the project for recreation. Where State

In

or local participation is not feasible or is limited with respect to total needs, the Corps of Engineers makes plans to provide basic facilities required to carry out the intent of the law that the projects be open for general public use for recreational purposes and available for further development by non-Federal interests. all instances any facilities other than basic facilities which may be needed or desired by the public for full enjoyment of the recreational potential of the project, remain a responsibility of the State and local interests.

The basic facilities provided by the Corps of Engineers with Federal funds fall into two broad categories: those necessary because of public interest in the project itself; and those required to provide access for recreational use.

Accommodation of Public Interest. Experience has demonstrated that there is substantial public interest in both the construction and operation of major engineering works for flood control, navigation and related purposes. Accordingly, the Corps of Engineers provides facilities required in the vicinity of project structures to

permit visitation by the general public without hazard and to avoid interference with construction or with operation of project facilities Since these facilities are

for the authorized project purposes.

necessary for operation of the projects for their intended purposes they are chargeable to those purposes. Such facilities include overlook stations for viewing project works, facilities for providing the public information about the project, public toilets, parking areas, a road system in the vicinity of the project structures, guard rails, fences, and directional signs and markers.

Provision for Access and Recreational Use. The facilities provided at Federal expense by the Corps of Engineers in the reservoir areas other than in the vicinity of project structures, are limited to the requirements of law for providing public access to the project land and water areas, for protection of property and resources, and for the health and safety of the using public. These basic facilities are classified as recreational facilities and include access roads (other than those needed for project operation), parking areas, public camping and picnicking areas (exclusive of special service facilities), water supply, sanitary facilities, boat launching ramps (exclusive of special service facilities), overlook stations, and essential safety devices in connection therewith. In some instances, beach improvements for public swimming, including simple change houses, and some public picnic shelters have been provided where such facilities are needed for safety and to meet climatic and other local requirements.

Boat anchorage areas have been provided in a few cases to permit administration of safety regulations. As previously stated, some of the basic facilities necessary to permit public access to the recreational potential of the project are frequently provided by non-Federal interests, particularly when such interests are assuming responsibility for further development and operation of recreational facilities.

As indicated by the Committee there has been variation between projects and regions in the type and extent of basic facilities provided at Federal expense. Due to differences in physical conditions at individual projects, climatic conditions, and public interest and needs in various parts of the country, it is not possible to obtain complete uniformity. Nevertheless, the Corps of Engineers

is making every effort to provide these facilities on a reasonably uniform, conservative and realistic basis. The instructions contained in EM 1130-2-312 (Appendix III), prepared with the assistance of experienced field personnel, were issued with that end in view. Additional facilities, services and management necessary or

desirable for full development of the recreation potential of the project and to give the public access to the recreational potential of the area, which are not provided by the Corps of Engineers are arranged by the Corps of Engineers by leases and concessions to

private organizations and individuals, and by leases or transfer to other Federal agencies or to State and local agencies.

V HANDLING OF LEASES AND CONCESSIONS

Commercial Leases and Concessions.

Concession leases to

organizations or private individuals are made to permit them to

offer the public such facilities as rental boats, boat docks and services, restaurants, overnight and vacation accommodations, and similar services.

Such facilities and services are not provided at

Federal expense but by concessionaires who are required to pay the Federal, State or local government for the privilege as explained later. Whenever it has been practicable to do so, the basic facilities, which would otherwise be provided by the Corps of Engineers in the vicinity of a planned concession site, have been provided by the concessionaire in accordance with his lease without cost to the

Federal Government.

Procedures. In developing the Master Plan for managing reservoir areas, provision is made for the leasing of commercial concession sites to private enterprise for those facilities and services for which a charge is normally made, such as the rental of boats, motors, sale of gasoline and fishing supplies, the care and repair of boats, overnight and vacation facilities, restaurants, etc. The primary objective of the Corps of Engineers in the direct leasing of lands in reservoir areas for commercial concession purposes is to make it possible, when States or local agencies do not plan to do so, for the public to obtain adequate services and facilities at reasonable charges. The availability of lands for lease for commercial concession purposes is generally extensively advertised. The procedure