Q. What was the issue with CJM?
A. HQUSACE conducted a review of the Cooperative Joint Management (CJM) program and determined that USACE was operating outside its legal authority by allowing the Cooperating Associations (CAs) to retain fee and expend recreation user fees generated from Corps constructed facilities where the Corps retains some non-routine operations and maintenance responsibilities under a cooperative agreement and real estate lease. The Corps started CJM in 2009; however, in 2010, requirements changed and most of the agreements were entered into in 2011.
Q. If the Corps has been doing CJM since 2009, why has the Corps now determined that it is illegal to continue the current arrangements?
A. Guidance was issued previously but the extent of its meaning and implications for existing and proposed arrangements was not understood.
Q. What kinds of facilities were affected by these changes in operations?
A. These changes only affected the CJM agreements and leases that allowed CAs to retain and expend recreation user fees that were charged to the public for the use of USACE-constructed facilities. These facilities included campgrounds, day use areas, visitor centers, and other public use facilities which USACE constructed with taxpayer funds and USACE maintained some operations and maintenance responsibility.
Q. Do these changes affect all agreements with cooperating associations?
A. No, other cooperative agreements with cooperating associations to operate gift shops, hold events, and other activities are not affected because they dont allow the collection, retention, and expenditure of recreation user fees for USACE-constructed facilities. These agreements require the CA to use their own funds for their activities at USACE facilities, not recreation user fees.
Q. What will happen to these parks and recreation areas in FY14?
A. The Corps will conduct an analysis of all Corps-managed recreation areas to determine if there is adequate funding to continue to operate and maintain any CJM parks or facilities that are not continued under a new arrangement with the CA. Any changes, including partial or temporary closures, will be made known to congressional members and the public as soon as they are confirmed.
Q. What are the options for the future management of the affected recreation areas and facilities?
A. There are several management options for the future operations and maintenance of the Corps recreation areas and facilities. They include:
- The Corps resumes 100% O&M of the recreation areas and facilities.
- The Corps temporarily closes the recreation areas and facilities until funding concerns and management options are finalized.
- The Corps goes through a process to determine if there will be permanent closure of recreation areas and facilities utilizing Recreation Assessment tool, the National Recreation Adjustment Plan, and public participation as required under the National Environmental Policy Act.
- The Corps advertises these recreation areas and facilities for management under a traditional exclusive lease.
- The CA assumes 100% O&M of the recreation areas and facilities under a traditional exclusive lease.
- The CA takes over 100% O&M of a subset of the recreation areas or facilities under a traditional exclusive lease, and the remainder of the areas are returned to the Corps to determine future management.
