Partnerships: Working Together to Enhance Recreation, Stewardship, and Public Service

Young children posing for a photo infront of the Union Sportmen's Alliance banner

Hood Park Partnership – Union Sportsmen’s Alliance

Man playing disc golf at Raystown Lake

Raystown Lake – Friends of Raystown Lake (and others)

USACE and Find Employees pose infront of Carter Lake welcome window
Carters Lake – FIND Outdoors

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) manages more than 400 lakes and rivers projects in 43 states for public recreation and natural resources. Across our lakes, rivers, parks, and public lands, partnerships play a critical role in helping us provide high-quality recreational opportunities, protect natural and cultural resources, and serve local communities.

USACE actively seeks partnerships with nonprofit organizations, educational institutions, local governments, Tribal Nations, conservation groups, recreation organizations, foundations, and private-sector entities that share our commitment to public service, environmental stewardship, and community engagement.  By working together, we can accomplish more than any organization can achieve alone.

Why Partner with USACE?

Partnerships allow organizations to contribute their expertise, resources, and innovation while helping advance shared conservation, recreation, and community objectives.

Potential partnership opportunities include:

  • Natural resource conservation and habitat restoration
  • Environmental education and interpretation programs
  • Volunteer recruitment and management
  • Recreation facility improvements and enhancements
  • Trail development and maintenance
  • Community outreach and public engagement
  • Research and monitoring projects
  • Youth conservation and workforce development programs
  • Special events and stewardship initiatives

A chart showing partnership growth between FY11 and FY25 with a significant spike above 4,000 partners in FY22

Benefits of Partnering with USACE
  • Expand Community Impact: Reach more than 260 million annual visitors who enjoy USACE-managed lands and waters across the country.
  • Advance Conservation and Stewardship Goals: Help protect and enhance natural resources through habitat restoration, invasive species management, environmental education, wildlife conservation, and sustainable recreation initiatives.
  • Leverage Resources and Expertise: Combine technical expertise, volunteer support, funding opportunities, equipment, and specialized knowledge to achieve shared objectives more efficiently and effectively.
  • Increase Volunteer Engagement: Create opportunities for volunteers to make meaningful contributions through trail work, habitat improvement projects, environmental education, visitor assistance, and community stewardship activities.
  • Support Recreation Opportunities: Improve visitor experiences through enhanced facilities, expanded recreational programs, improved accessibility, and innovative outdoor recreation opportunities that benefit the public.
  • Build Long-Term Community Relationships: Foster lasting relationships among federal agencies, nonprofit organizations, local communities, businesses, and educational institutions, creating networks that support sustainable resource management and public service.

Whether your organization is interested in conservation, recreation, education, volunteer engagement, community development, or environmental stewardship, USACE welcomes opportunities to explore mutually beneficial partnerships.

To learn more about partnership opportunities and the USACE NRM mission:

Division/District

POC

Phone Number

Email Address

Great Lakes & Ohio River Division

Mike McCoy

304-399-5144 X 5144

michael.l.mccoy@usace.army.mil

Mississippi Valley Division

Breanna Trovillion

(618) 724-2493

breanna.f.whitley@usace.army.mil

North Atlantic Division

Jared Gagnon

978-318-8027

jared.s.gagnon@usace.army.mil

Northwestern Division

Keith Hyde

208-343-0671

keith.b.hyde@usace.army.mil

South Atlantic Division

Cassie Cross

(434) 738-6143 X 6168

casandra.p.martin@usace.army.mil

South Pacific Division

Taylor Baughn

707-561-2123

Taylor.A.Baughn@usace.army.mil

Southwestern Division

Arianna Jacinto

(254) 756-5359 X 1469

arianna.l.jacinto@usace.army.mil

 

Each USACE Division has a Natural Resources Management representative who works closely with USACE staff and partner organizations to develop and strengthen partnerships across the region. These representatives also serve on the national Partnership Advisory Committee, helping identify opportunities, address challenges, and promote innovative partnership initiatives.

USACE's Natural Resources Management program operates through 38 District offices that oversee approximately 404 lake and river projects across the United States. Each District has Natural Resources Management staff who work directly with partners at the local level to support recreation, conservation, environmental stewardship, volunteer programs, and community engagement efforts.

Whether your interest is national, regional, or local in scope, USACE staff are available to help connect your organization with partnership opportunities that advance shared goals and deliver lasting benefits to America's public lands and waters.

The organizations featured on this page represent partners that maintain a national Memorandum of Agreement (MOA), Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), Cooperative Agreement, or other formal partnership relationship with USACE at the national level.

This list is not intended to be comprehensive. Across the country, USACE collaborates with thousands of outstanding nonprofit organizations, educational institutions, local governments, community groups, Tribes, and private-sector partners whose contributions support recreation, conservation, environmental stewardship, education, and public service at the local and regional levels. These local partnerships are vital to the success of the USACE mission and help deliver lasting benefits to communities nationwide.