Recreation at USACE lake and river projects is more than fun and games. It also is an important part of the local economy. Businesses can see the investment opportunities when thousands of people are drawn every day to an area. Restaurants spring up, along with hotels, resorts, boat marinas, and sporting goods stores. Soon, word spreads through the region of the lake's pleasures and more people begin to visit.

Nationally, USACE lake and river projects attract about 260 million recreation visits every year, and the economic impact on these areas is enormous. In Fiscal Year 2019, approximately $12.7 billion was spent by visitors at USACE projects and approximately 210,000 jobs were supported by visitation to USACE lake and river projects. The recreational facilities at these projects are a significant enhancement for many communities, contribute to their quality of life and those of park visitors, and support State and local governments’ economic development and job creation efforts.