VICKSBURG, Miss. – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Vicksburg District will reopen select campgrounds at its Mississippi lakes – Arkabutla, Enid, Grenada and Sardis – beginning June 1.
Class A campgrounds that will reopen at Arkabutla Lake include Dub Patton and South Abutment. The Hernando Point campground will remain closed due to storm damage. The Outlet Channel, Kelly’s Crossing and Pleasant Hill campgrounds will also reopen, and the collection of fees at these campgrounds has been suspended until further notice to reduce risk to park rangers and visitors.
Class A campgrounds that will reopen at Enid Lake include Wallace Creek, Persimmon Hill, Chickasaw Hill and Water Valley Landing. The campgrounds at Plum Point and Long Branch will also reopen, and the collection of fees at these campgrounds has been suspended until further notice to reduce risk to park rangers and visitors. The Ford’s Well campground will remain closed for repairs.
Class A campgrounds that will reopen at Grenada Lake include North Abutment, North Graysport and Gum’s Crossing. The Eagle Point and Bryant campgrounds will remain closed due to high water. The Skuna Turkey campground will also reopen, and no fee is required for camping there.
Class A campgrounds that will reopen at Sardis Lake include Oak Grove, Pat’s Bluff, Hurricane Landing and Clear Creek. The campgrounds at Sleepy Bend, Graham Lake and Elmer’s Hill will also reopen, and the collection of fees at these campgrounds has been suspended until further notice to reduce risk to park rangers and visitors.
All Class A campground reservations and payments must be made in advance exclusively online at https://www.recreation.gov/. The move to online reservations and payments is intended to reduce risk to park rangers and visitors.
Shower facilities, comfort stations and dump stations will be open where available. Boat ramps, nature trails, individual picnic sites and fishing areas, as well as nearby amenities, remain open.
All pavilions, picnic areas, beaches, playgrounds, amphitheaters and drinking fountains will remain closed until further notice. These closures are intended to prevent large gatherings and common use of high-touch surfaces.
All USACE field offices and visitor centers will remain closed to the public until further notice. Applications for special use permits must be submitted online and will be reviewed and approved on a case-by-case basis.
The collection of all day use fees has been suspended until October 1.
Visitors to the USACE Vicksburg District’s Mississippi lakes must practice social distancing and adhere to any other mandates issued by local, state and federal officials, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The Vicksburg District strongly encourages visitors to wash their hands properly, stay at home if they are experiencing symptoms and follow any guidance provided by local, state and federal officials.
For more information about operational changes, the public may contact the following:
• Arkabutla Lake: 662-562-6261
• Sardis Lake: 662-563-4531
• Enid Lake: 662-563-4571
• Grenada Lake: 662-226-5911
“Because of high water levels at our Mississippi lakes, our campgrounds at those lakes will remain closed throughout May to allow our employees to focus on protecting downstream communities from flooding,” said USACE Vicksburg District Commander Col. Robert Hilliard. “Flood risk management is the top priority at these lakes, and we must prioritize the ability of our employees to continue this critical mission. By June 1, we anticipate that conditions will allow us to reopen the campgrounds, and we will continue to provide updates as they become available.”
The USACE Vicksburg District temporarily closed select recreation site attractions across Mississippi, Louisiana and Arkansas to the public in March. All Vicksburg District visitor centers, interpretive centers and field offices will remain closed to public until further notice.
Arkabutla, Sardis, Enid and Grenada lakes, the four Mississippi flood control reservoirs in the USACE Vicksburg District’s area of responsibility, were authorized by the Flood Control Act of 1936, which provided a plan designed to address flooding that originated in the Yazoo Basin. The four reservoirs are used to hold runoff, or excess rainwater, as a flood-prevention measure. With approximately 3.2 million visitors each year, the north Mississippi lakes also contribute approximately $82 million into the local economy.
The USACE Vicksburg District owns and operates more than 100 recreation areas across Mississippi, Arkansas and Louisiana where millions of visitors enjoy fishing, camping, hunting, boating, hiking, swimming, geocaching and more every year. The district’s 10 flood control reservoirs across Mississippi, Arkansas and Louisiana provide numerous benefits to the region, including flood risk management, hydropower, water supply, wildlife management and recreation.
The USACE Vicksburg District is engineering solutions to the nation’s toughest challenges. The Vicksburg District encompasses a 68,000-square-mile area across portions of Mississippi, Arkansas and Louisiana that holds seven major river basins and incorporates approximately 460 miles of mainline Mississippi River levees. The district is engaged in hundreds of projects and employs approximately 1,100 personnel.
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