The looming shutdown of the federal government this week will impact boat ramp facilities across the country, specifically those operated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, BassFan has learned.
According to Rob Holland, public affairs officer for the South Atlantic Division based in Atlanta, not all ramps would be affected, but boaters and anglers can expect to see access at some facilities closed.
"If (the shutdown) does take place, it won't be total shutdown for us," Holland said. "There is some funding left over from the previous fiscal year, but the length of time and number of facilities it will support we just don't know. Some will close immediately, others may remain open for a week or less. It won't be long."
He couldn't identify which facilities in his region would be closed – that would be better known at the local level, he said – but he did outline some parameters for facility closures.
"If a boat ramp is located behind a gate, the gate will be locked and access will not be allowed," he said. "If a ramp is not behind a gate, we won't make any attempt to bar public use or barricade the facility. It will be use at your own risk. There will be no Corps or government presence."
USACOE officials from other divisions who spoke with BassFan echoed Holland in that Corps-operated parks with a gate will be closed to public access while most of those without gates will remain open.
"The Corps is preparing for the closure of Corps-operated campgrounds and day use parks," said Jackie Tate, the public affairs chief for the Great Lakes and Ohio Valley Division in Cincinnati, Ohio. "Any of the affected recreation areas will not reopen until after the shutdown is over, should one occur."
Laurie Driver, a public affairs specialist with the Corps' Little Rock, Ark., District said campers are being notified that should the shutdown occur, they need to vacate the park by 8 p.m. local time on Oct. 2.
