The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has announced the closure of several local recreational sites along the Lower Snake River due to a staffing shortage among park rangers. According to Corps spokesman Dylan Peters, this shortage is attributed to a hiring freeze implemented by the previous administration, resulting in insufficient personnel to manage various responsibilities, including waste management, bathroom maintenance, and safety checks.

One of the sites affected is Blyton Landing, located southwest of Pullman, where the gate was locked on Friday. Blyton Landing features a boat ramp, a dock, and a limited number of campsites but lacks trash disposal facilities. Rangers will be monitoring Blyton while patrolling nearby sites, including Wawawai Landing and Nisqually John Landing.

Additionally, the Illia Dunes, a popular gathering spot for Washington State University students, have also been closed. Traditionally busy during the last Saturday of the semester, the dunes are expected to attract visitors due to favorable weather conditions.

Over the past few years, the Corps has implemented measures to restrict access to public lands along the Lower Snake River, including the installation of gates at various locations in 2021. These gates were originally established for potential emergencies or government shutdowns. This is reportedly the first instance of their use since installation, despite previous wildfires in the area. The Corps has also limited public access to Lower Granite Dam, which serves as a primary route to the dunes, and is preparing to erect a fence near Granite Point at Wawawai Landing.

Corps officials are urging the public to comply with the closures and are optimistic about reopening the sites by July.