Pittsburgh District Dams, Lakes and Reservoirs

The Pittsburgh District operates and maintains 16 flood control projects. These are dams which hold a pool of water behind, forming a lake.  Eight earthen, seven concrete and one combination dam store runoff from rainfall and snowmelt events. The stored runoff is then released in a controlled process to prevent or reduce flood damages throughout the District. The 16 projects cost approximately $500 million to construct. Since the first, Tygart Lake, was built in 1938, the projects are estimated to have prevented nearly $12 billion in flood damages. Besides flood control benefits, these sites provide abundant natural resources and recreation opportunities! 


Click on a lake image to visit lake web page. Click here for links to our CorpsLakes Gateway pages.

BOATING
CAMPING
FISHING
RECREATION

           

Recreation

There are an abundance of recreation opportunities at our 16 lakes and in the pools created by our 23 navigation locks and dams on the Allegheny, Monongahela and Ohio rivers. There are approximately 104,000 acres of public lands adjacent to our dam and reservoir facilities in western Pennsylvania, eastern Ohio and northern West Virginia providing recreation on and around the water. Boating, canoeing, jet skiing, wind surfing, swimming, fishing, hiking, picnicking, camping, hunting, and other outdoor opportunities are available.

Our recreation and land management programs reflect a dual mission which emphasizes developing recreational opportunities by federal, state, and local government and private enterprise. At the same time, the Corps is committed to protecting natural and cultural resources for future generations.

Safety tip: The district would like to remind recreational boaters that anchoring inside the navigational channel is prohibited and poses a great hazard to navigation.  Commercial vessels frequently require large portions of the channel to maneuver. Additionally, they need several hundred feet to stop to avoid a  collision.  Contact the district at (412)-395-7100 or the Coast Guard at (412)-670-4288 for any questions or concerns.

Campsite Reservations

Reservations can be made up to six months toll-free at 1-877-444-6777 or through www.Recreation.gov. Campsites at all other Pittsburgh District lakes, as well as other campsites at Berlin, Shenango, Tionesta and Youghiogheny lakes, are available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Annual Day Use Pass

Annual passes allow entry to any U.S. Army Corps of Engineers-operated day-use areas nationwide during the 12-month period in which they are valid. Annual passes do not allow entry to campgrounds or result in reduced camping fees. Passes will not be replaced if lost or stolen.

Corps Rangers

Corps Park Rangers working at district lakes present a variety of programs to the public geared toward environmental awareness and enhancing public understanding of the Corps and its missions. Rangers and other district personnel present similar programs at community events and schools where Bobber the Water Safety Dog – the district’s water safety mascot – is extremely popular.

Interactive Reservoir Map