Corp of Engineers

During the 1960s, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) also known as COE with regards to the popularity of it’s campgrounds, was active in environmental restoration and preservation.  Throughout this period of time, the USACE built dams to help control rivers, often harnessing these rivers to generate hydroelectric power.  This resulted in the COE being a major provider of hydroelectric energy, as well as becoming the country’s leading provider of water-based recreation.

In Missouri alone, 12 lakes were created as the result of the COE’s environmental efforts.  All of these lakes offer camping and recreational opportunities centered around water-based recreation.  Fortunately for Missouri Trailblazers, some of these opportunities include horsebacking.

The Corp of Engineer lakes created in Missouri include Blue Springs, Smithville and Longview lakes which are all located within a few minutes drive of Kansas City.  In the southwestern part of the state, Bull Shoals, Table Rock and Stockton lakes serve a large, outdoors-minded community and help drive tourism in that part of the state.  Harry S. Truman Lake and Pomme De Terre Lake are noted as great fishing spots in Central Missouri, while Long Branch and Mark Twain lakes provide recreation in the northeastern region. Wappapello and Clearwater lakes are corps lakes located in Southeast Missouri.

The U.S. Army Corp of Engineers also collaborates on projects with other entities such as city, county, Missouri Department of Conservation, and Missouri Dept of Natural Resources, in order to help develop, manage, and achieve some of their goals.  All together, Missouri Trailblazers enjoy hundreds of miles of horse trails thanks to the hard work and diligence of the Army Corp of Engineers.