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2w ago

Secret Service Raised Ohio River Level Ahead of VP Vance’s Birthday Kayak Trip

Army Corps officials say the adjustment followed standard protocols, drawing criticism from ethics observers over the use of public infrastructure for a private trip.

Vice President JD Vance speaks as President Donald Trump makes an announcement about Apple with Apple CEO Tim Cook in the Oval Office, Wednesday, Aug. 6, 2025, in Washington.
Image
The Little Miami River flows in Oregonia, Ohio, Thursday, Aug. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Patrick Aftoora-Orsagos)
U.S. Vice President JD Vance delivers remarks at the Wilshire Federal Building in Los Angeles, California, U.S., June 20, 2025.

Overview

  • The Secret Service requested on August 1 that the Army Corps temporarily increase outflows from Caesar Creek Lake to raise the Little Miami River ahead of Vice President Vance’s birthday kayaking outing.
  • The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Louisville District confirmed the release met operational criteria, would not affect upstream or downstream water levels, and that downstream stakeholders were notified in advance.
  • Public USGS data showed a spike in Little Miami River levels and a drop in Caesar Creek Lake elevation during Vance’s visit, corroborating the timing of the release.
  • Vance’s office said he was unaware of the water-level adjustment and noted that protective measures are often carried out without his knowledge.
  • Ethics experts and lawmakers have denounced the move as an entitlement using taxpayer-funded resources during federal budget cuts and referenced a similar 1999 dam release for Vice President Al Gore.