Hillsdale Lake, other rec areas face service cuts, closures in KC region
Hillsdale Lake, a popular recreational area south of the Kansas City metro area in Miami County, is among more than a dozen lakes across Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska and Iowa that will experience temporary closures or reductions of services beginning in May, the Kansas City District of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers announced last week.
The cuts are due to seasonal staffing and resource constraints affecting the Kansas City District’s ability to maintain all recreational sites at their usual service levels, they said. Temporary changes are being implemented across all 18 lakes in the Kansas City District to ensure visitor safety, protect environmental resources and support hydropower and dam operations.
“We recognize closures of recreation areas and visitor centers are disruptive, but the Kansas City District is committed to providing safe, quality recreation opportunities and facilities for our visitors,” Col. Andrew Niewohner, Kansas City District commander, said in a news release.
Public recreation and access is still available, said Emily Coffin, natural resources section chief for the Kansas City District. However, the USACE is facing difficult decisions about limiting operations at certain recreation areas due to staffing.
The USACE is committed to maintaining safe recreation opportunities, Coffin added.
Coffin said the Kansas City District lake projects are using all available staff, contractors, volunteers and partner agencies to meet the demands of the public and the land and water resources.
As of April 28, no employee of the Kansas City District has been terminated due to cuts made by billionaire Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency, Coffin said.
The Kansas City District employs roughly 1,000 people, which can vary.
“We rely heavily on our volunteer staff at our lake projects and volunteers are always needed,” Coffin said. Anyone interested in volunteering at a lake project can visit www.volunteer.gov.
The Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks, which manages all camping, boat ramps and other access areas at the lake, said on Wednesday that the cuts won’t be affecting its services.
“We want to make sure that everyone is aware that none of the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks’ services will be affected by the Army Corps cuts,” said Laura Rose Clawson, chief of public affairs for the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks. “If anything, we might see a slight increase in visitation to the State Park and Wildlife Area as a result of USACE’s service cuts.”
At Hillsdale, the department has both a 2,8300-acre state park with wildlife viewing, hiking trails, equestrian trails, campgrounds, and a shooting range, and a 10,000 acre wildlife area, with hunting and fishing opportunities.
Campsites, visitor centers closing
The Kansas City District manages 18 lakes and reservoirs in Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska and Iowa, including Blue Springs Lake, Clinton Lake, Harry S. Truman Lake, Hillsdale Lake, Longview Lake, Perry Lake and Smithville Lake in or near the metro area.
They are popular outdoor recreation destinations, attracting nearly 16 million visits in fiscal year 2023, Coffin said.
The reduced services will affect all of the Kansas City District lakes, with the more significant impacts occurring at Hillsdale, Kanopolis and Wilson lakes in Kansas, and Harlan County Lake in Nebraska, the USACE said.
For the 2025 season, 25 primitive campsites will be closed at the North and South Outlet Park at Harlan County Lake. River access and day use remain open. The campground at Minooka Park in the Marshall Cove Loop of Wilson Lake will be closed for dispersed overnight use. Day use will remain open.
Meanwhile, the information centers at Hillsdale and Kanopolis lakes will be impacted, with no public services at Hillsdale and pass sales by appointment only at Kanopolis.
Coffin said public recreation areas and access are open, and there are no physical closures, like closed gates or barricades, within the Kansas City District.
“However, visitors may notice reduced services, which have been implemented over the last five to six years, including self-service campground registration, no cash sales, limited hours and fewer outreach programs,” Coffin said. “These measures aim to make the most of available staff time serving the public.”
Those visiting the lakes for the first time may not notice the impacts, Coffin said.
“However, for those who have recreated regularly over the years, they might notice reduced staffed resources at some of our lakes,” Coffin said.
When asked whether there would be additional cuts, Coffin said the USACE remains flexible as conditions and resources change.
There is no timeline as to how long the temporary closures and service cuts will last, Coffin said. People planning trips to the lakes are encouraged to check the Kansas City District’s webiste before visiting.
Once they have reached their destinations, visitors are asked to follow posted signs and closures to protect public safety and ensure the USACE can reopen more effectively in the future.
This story was originally published April 30, 2025 at 6:00 AM.
