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Progress Update

The US Army Corps of Engineers, Pittsburgh District, is revising the Woodcock Creek Lake Master Plan which guides the management of government owned and leased lands around the lake. This will impact future use of natural resources and recreational activities at Woodcock Creek Lake for the next 25 years. This is your opportunity to let the Corps know how you would like the lake to be managed in the future.

 

Explore the website to learn more about the Master Plan update process and proposed content as it’s developed. Then, tell us what about Woodcock Creek Lake is most important to you and share what you’d like to do and see changed in the future at the lake!

 

  • Share your perspective, sign up for our mailing list, and/or let us know how you’d prefer to be involved in the Woodcock Creek Lake Master Plan Update by emailing us at celrp-pa@usace.army.mil. We look forward to hearing your comments about the topics in the "Tell Us What You Think!" box below!

We are currently in the process of incorporating your online comment submissions and input from the August 3rd stakeholder meeting into the Master Plan. Come back to this website periodically to see what changes we are recommending for Woodcock Creek Lake.

Scoping Topics: Tell Us What You Think!

As we update the Woodcock Creek Lake Master Plan, we welcome any comments, suggestions, or feedback you may have. In particular, your thoughts on the following would be helpful:

  • The regional needs the Master Plan should take into consideration
  • The potential threats that need to be addressed in the Master Plan
  • The opportunities you see for the Woodcock Creek Lake area
  • Information we should be aware of as we update the Master Plan
  • The areas or resources needing to be protected for their environmental, cultural, or archeological significance
  • Best Management Practices that should be considered for managing the project and its resources

All responses should be emailed to: CELRP-PA@usace.army.mil

Thank you in advance for contributing to the Woodcock Creek Lake Master Plan update!

Explore Considered Changes -- Map

Interactive Map

Click on the map above to be taken to our interactive map of the proposed Woodcock Creek Lake improvements.

Background

What is a Master Plan? A Master Plan is a strategic land use man­agement document that guides the com­prehensive management and development of recreation, natural and cultural re­sources at Corps reservoirs and provides a vision for how the Reservoir should look in the future. The Master Plan does not address water management operations, associated prime facilities (dam, spillway etc.), or shoreline management as those operations are outlined in separate documents. After a Master Plan is revised, the operational management plan and shoreline management plan would both be revised to be consistent with the goals identified in the Master Plan.

 

Why Update the Woodcock Creek Master Plan? The original Woodcock Creek Lake Master Plan was developed more than 40 years ago and does not reflect current conditions at the lake. Changes in Corps regulations and community needs necessitate a revision to this Master Plan. The Master Plan revision will classify the government lands around the lake based on environmental and socioeconomic considerations, public input, and an evaluation of past, present, and forecasted trends. This update is stewardship driven and seeks to balance recreational development and use with the goal of conservation of natural and cultural resources.


What does updating a master plan mean for future actions taken at the project? A master plan provides a set of recommended actions (e.g. trail extension, development of equestrian area, leasing, concessions, etc.). Recommended actions included in the master plan are quicker and easier to carry out.  In essence, a master plan provides pre-approval for future actions under the assumption that they have already been analyzed and found to be appropriate for Federal landEngineer Regulation 200-2-2, 9.d. provides categorical exclusion from further analysis under the National Environmental Policy Act for "All Operations and Maintenance grants, general plans, agreements, etc. necessary to carry out land use, development and other measures proposed in project authorization documents, project design memoranda, master plans are reflected in the project NEPA documents." Master plans also detail the responsibilities pursuant to Federal laws to preserve, conserve, restore, maintain, manage, and develop lands, waters, and resources.  For example, if a project has active bald Eagle nests, the master plan will identify areas that must be avoided and the methods of mitigating impacts to the species.

 

What are the objectives of the Master Plan update?

The Woodcock Creek Lake Master Plan revision's main objectives are:

  • Conserve the resources of the lake within the current policies and guidelines of the Corps of Engineers

  • Accommodate current and projected use patterns with maximum efficiency

  • Identify and protect cultural and natural resources

  • Attract maximum participation by the general public and local government