Following a Tuesday announcement that the popular Springy Point Recreation Area will be closed this summer, regional U.S. Army Corps of Engineers personnel described the challenges they’re facing during a May 1 public meeting. 

According to Albeni Falls Dam natural resources chief Taylor Johnson, a shortage of park rangers and maintenance personnel was the primary factor in his decision to temporarily shutter the area. 

“Without proper staffing levels, we can't ensure that the public can recreate safely and that the resource is going to be taken care of in the manner that it's supposed to.” Johnson said. 

“We don't take this lightly,” he added. “It's not something we want to do.” 

Johnson reported that the Corps typically hosts about 450,000 visitors annually across its six Lake Pend Oreille recreation properties. He noted that those users come with an estimated economic impact each year of over $17 million, and told attendees that he recognizes the Springy Point closure will be a financial blow to the region.

The shortage of workers is also set to cause a reduction in preventative maintenance and janitorial services across several of the Corps’ regional properties, along with a complete cancellation of public education and outreach activities, including USACE’s participation in local Fourth of July parades. 

“We’re going to have more (public land) encroachments. We’re going to have a lack of management for invasive species,” Johnson said regarding his expectations for the upcoming summer. 

“We just do not have the staff to deliver what we want to deliver to the public,” he added. “This is about as tight as we've ever been.” 

Taylor and Col. Kathryn Sanborn, USACE Seattle district commander, noted that the staffing shortage is a product of several factors, including natural attrition and a U.S. Department of Defense-wide pause on new hires that has been in effect since President Donald Trump took office in January. 

“This is not a financial issue. We have the money we need to deliver on our mission,” Taylor explained. “It is a hiring freeze issue.” 

To exemplify the extent of the problem, Taylor told attendees that he typically maintains a staff of eight year-round personnel and 10 temporary workers for the summer season. 

This year, he has four full-time staff members and six seasonal employees. 

“We simply can't onboard the seasonal staff that we need to have here, and we can't replace the ones that we've lost,” he said. 

Residents in attendance expressed dissatisfaction with the impending limitations and urged the Corps to come up with a creative solution to maintain public access at Springy Point. 

District 1 State Sen. Jim Woodward, who was in attendance, echoed the residents, and suggested the Corps could at least open Springy Point during the day. 

“I would bring you the ‘Day Use Only’ sign. I’ll go order one tomorrow,” Woodward said. 

Woodward also offered to encourage federal officials to grant the Corps an exemption from the hiring freeze. Col. Sanborn said that USACE personnel have already unsuccessfully requested exemptions, and to Woodward’s offer, replied, “I really don’t know if it would make a difference.” 

Corps staff told attendees that they’re doing everything they can to maximize access to their amenities, and said that they’re hoping the presently announced closures and limitations will be the extent of their shortages this summer: “I’m crossing my fingers that this is it,” Taylor said. 

Going forward, he asked residents and visitors to be patient and understanding as staff work to provide as many offerings as possible with the resources they have available. 

“You don't get into public service to not serve the public; my team is really struggling with this,” Johnson said. “It's going to be a different summer. Hopefully, it's just for this summer.”