Brief History:
Development of Corps of Engineers projects during the defontcades of the 1940's and the 1950's occurred typically in rural settings. Suburban sprawl was in its infancy. The development of Corps lakes nationwide soon attracted so many visitors that the Congress began to include recreation and fish and wildlife management as a project purpose. The Flood Control Act of 1944 gave the Corps specific authority to provide public outdoor recreation facilities at its projects.

Continued national growth, with its attendant increase in disposable income and leisure time, resulted in increased public use of Corps projects. Improved roads and automobiles came quickly, and the cities grew out to meet and surround the once rural projects. Currently about 80 percent of the Corps 459 lakes which contain 4,290 recreation areas (53% managed directly by the Corps), are within 50 miles of major metropolitan areas; 94 percent are within a two hour drive. The Corps currently administers approximately 11.7 million acres of land and water.