The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers at Lake Sidney Lanier is seeking non-Federal public entities to submit proposals for the co-management of certain recreation areas at Lake Sidney Lanier.  Non-Federal public entities are limited to state, county, municipal or local governments, public institutions of higher education, and Native American Tribes. 

These partnerships will be entered into under a Challenge Cost Sharing Cooperative Management Agreement made possible by authority established under Public Law 114-322. 

The purpose of the agreements is to “share the cost” of operations and maintenance of the recreation areas.  The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers at Lake Sidney Lanier is “right sizing” the federal recreation program to remain within appropriated funds received. 

Options to accomplish this goal are:

1) a direct lease

2) a cooperative management agreement

3) close certain recreation areas. 

“The cooperative management option appears to be the best option, it is a win, win, win” said Tim Rainey, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Lake Sidney Lanier, Project Manager.

Benefits of the cooperative management include:

USACE Benefits:

• Cost savings for current management, operations, and maintenance expenses.
• Sharing costs maintains eligibility of the recreation site to receive Corps appropriations. 
• User fees collected will be reinvested in the recreation site instead of being deposited in the US Treasury. (User fees collected stay local)

Partner Benefits:

• Partners may retain up to 100% of the user fees collected to offset their costs of management, operation, and maintenance of the recreation site and will reinvest any retained amount for the management, operation, and maintenance of the recreation site. (User fees collected stay local)
• May serve to satisfy partners mission of increasing their recreational opportunity and/or greenspace inventory for quality-of-life improvements.
• Cost sharing instead of the full burden of management, operation, and maintenance on the Partner.

Public Benefits:

• Potential for longer operating seasons and more recreational opportunities.
• Potential for improved services.
• May prevent closure of recreation sites.
• User fees collected will be reinvested in the recreation site instead of being deposited in the US Treasury. (User fees collected stay local)

Interested non-Federal public entities may view the “Notice” that provides all required information regarding submitting a proposal at:

https://www.sam.usace.army.mil/Missions/Civil-Works/Recreation/Lake-Sidney-Lanier/ 

Original source can be found here