Friends of Raystown Lake

Did you know? The revenue that is generated in the Seven Points, Nancy's Camp and Susquehannock campgrounds does not go back into the Raystown Lake budget! 

Whaaaat? It's true! Currently, most of the revenue that is generated by USACE owned and operated facilities at Raystown Lake goes directly back to the US Treasury! 

However, there is proposed legislation currently in the Senate, known as the Lakes Access Keeping Economies Strong (LAKES) Act to change that! 

The LAKES Act, introduced by Senators Kevin Cramer (R-ND) and Martin Heinrich (D-NM), will include authority for the US Army Corps of Engineers to retain up to 80% of recreation use fees that can then be reinvested directly to the Corps project where the fees were collected. This gives local project managers the flexibility to repair infrastructure and complete maintenance with funds already paid by the visiting public. 

This long awaited authority will allow the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to join other Federal land management agencies, such as the National Park Service, Forest Service, US Fish and Wildlife Service, and Bureau of Land Management, in retaining recreation fees and revenue generated on the project.

Additionally, many non-profit organizations, such as the Friends of Raystown Lake, would like to do more to jointly operate recreation projects managed by the Corps, but current authorities do not allow it. The LAKES Act would give that authority to the Corps to share management responsibilities with local organizations and to use collected fees to pay for the reinvestment.

WE NEED YOUR HELP!!!

This proposed legislation could have HUGELY beneficial impacts on Raystown Lake facilities and operations, but if we want it to pass, we need your help!

There is work to do! Call your Senator and Congressional representative to encourage their support for America’s lakes and waterways managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and specifically mention the LAKES Act. 

Feel free to use the fillable letter as a template and mail it to your state's senators or give them a phone call!

The Friends of Raystown Lake's primary focus is the responsible stewardship of the natural and recreational resources of Raystown Lake.  They are actively involved in environmental education, resource  protection and enhancement, and recreational improvement. The Friends of Raystown Lake is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Beginning in 1988 as the Raystown Lake Clean-Up Committee; it incorporated as The Friends of Raystown Lake organization in 1996.

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