J.D. Vance Had River’s Water Level Raised Ahead Of His Family Boat Outing

Vice President JD Vance had the water levels of an Ohio river raised during his birthday boating outing earlier this month.

His team requested that engineers from the Army Corps change the outflow of Caesar Creek Lake for Vance’s canoeing trip on the Little Miami River on August 2.

The request, first reported by The Guardian, was reportedly made by the U.S. Secret Service to “support safe navigation” for Vance’s security detail.

JD Vance had water levels raised for his family canoeing trip in Ohio

Image credits: Drew Hallowell/Getty Images

A source with knowledge of the trip told the outlet that the outflow was not just for Vance’s security detail, but also so he could enjoy “ideal kayaking conditions.”

That claim could not be independently verified.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) said it received “a request to temporarily increase outflows from Caesar Creek Lake to support safe navigation of U.S. Secret Service personnel,” in a statement to The Guardian.

While the Secret Service said it could not discuss operational planning specifics, it confirmed it had coordinated with USACE and the Ohio Department of Natural Resources to ensure operational safety.

Vance was seen canoeing down the river on Saturday, which was his 41st birthday.

Image credits: USGS

Available data from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) also shows an increase in the water level on August 2 and a corresponding drop after the boating trip.

The USACE has previously changed outflow levels for events such as emergency training and community sporting, but it is understood that requests to modify river levels for individual use are generally not permitted.

USACE spokesperson Gene Pawlik told The Guardian: “It was determined that the operations would not adversely affect downstream or upstream water levels.

“Downstream stakeholders were notified in advance of the slight outflow increase, which occurred August 1, 2025.”

There is no suggestion that Vance’s team acted illegally to increase the water flow.

However, ethics concerns have been raised as it comes amid federal government cuts that have impacted the National Park Service (NPS).

His trip raises ethical concerns amid federal government cuts that have impacted the National Park Service.

The VP and his family were celebrating his 41st birthday on August 2

Image credits: AndyHemmerCincinnati

Since January, NPS has lost about a quarter of its staff, according to estimates from the National Parks Conservation Association.

Those job losses have impacted park opening hours and even led to the closure of some sections.

Barack Obama’s former ethics czar, Norm Eisen, said he would never have allowed such a request from the administration.

“I got a lot of unusual requests, but I never got one to increase the outflow of a waterway as part of a government official going kayaking,” he told The Guardian.

“My nickname was ‘Mr No’ and I certainly would have lived up to it in this situation. I never would have permitted this kind of thing because, whether it technically violates the rules or not, it creates the appearance that the vice-president of the United States is getting special treatment that’s not available to the average person who wants to utilize that body of water for recreational purposes.”

“While there may well be security-related explanations or justifications that come into the analysis, my reaction is: ‘I don’t care.’ We shouldn’t be utilizing government resources in this way. I never would have allowed it.”