If you live in North Dakota you most likely have Spring Fever now after the warm (40's and 50's) temps BUT spring doesn't come and STAY until late April... fact is I've seen several snowfalls on my birthday, May 16th.
That being said I am looking forward to several camping trips this summer. My camping trips are short (a distance of 40 to 90 miles) and brief (one to three days).
One of the spots I look forward to visiting is the Garrison Dam Spillway Pound. The Spillway Pond was once one of the most beautiful spots I knew of to camp. In June of 2011 Lake Sakakawea hit it's maximum capacity and was in danger of bursting for the first time in history. The gates of the spillway had to be opened. The gates were opened and the spillway pond (yes the pond itself) and the campsite all washed away.
Several "authorized" volunteers have been trying to do what they can to restore the grounds but without funding from the Corp of Engineers their hands are really tied. Until the Corp says so they can not rebuild the restrooms or any other part of the infrastructure, including the boat ramp.
I had mentioned that they must be flush with money because camping has/had really boomed here with Covid. What they said really surprised me... even for OUR government. They said that all fees paid to the Corp by campers goes into one big Washington hopper and events like the flood does NOT change how much money they receive here locally neither does the amount of money raised here.
So, in short if your campground is destroyed by a natural disaster it means nothing to the Corp. If your campground is generating income hand over fist it means nothing to the Corp. Now that I think about it why does that surprise me???
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