Berlin Lake Brochure (99 KB)

Berlin Lake
7400 Bedell Road
Berlin Center, OH  44401-9707
(330) 547-3781
Daily Lake & Recreation Information:
(330) 547-5445

• Lake & Dam Statistics

• Maps

• Recreation

• Current Events

• Facilities & Activities

• Links of Interest

• Shoreline Management

Authorized by the Flood Control Act of 1938, Berlin Lake is one of 16 flood control projects in the Pittsburgh District.  The project provides flood protection for the Mahoning River Valley was well as for the Beaver and Upper Ohio Rivers.  Since its completion in 1943, Berlin has prevented flood damages estimated to be in excess of $1 billion.  The project has the capability to store the equivalent run-off of 6.9 inches of precipitation from its 249 square mile drainage area.

The project also provides communities downstream with a clean and dependable water supply and has helped to alleviate pollution problems along the Mahoning River Valley.  Additionally, Deer Creek Dam, which was built on project lands by the City of Alliance, Ohio, under agreement with the Department of the Army, provides a reservoir for domestic water supply to nearby communities.

Lake & Dam Statistics

Maps

Vicinity Map	Berlin Lake Map	Mill Creek Campground Map

Recreation
Take time out to enjoy the ever-changing pattern of life and scenery that await your discovery at Berlin Lake.  Located in northeastern Ohio within a short drive of Akron, Youngstown and Warren, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Pittsburgh District invites you to exchange the sights and sounds of the city for those of the Ohio countryside.  In addition to its colorful scenery, the Berlin Lake offers visitors a wide variety of recreational experiences.  Whether it’s camping, boating, picnicking or just relaxing in peaceful surroundings you’ll find it at Berlin Lake.

The Mill Creek Recreation Area with its diversity of campsites, from wooded waterfront sites to grassy spots in the sun, is an ideal family campground.  Facilities provided include flush toilets, hot showers, a large boat launching ramp and a sanitary disposal station.  A limited number of campsites are also equipped with electric hookups.  The Mill Creek Recreation Area campground is open from Memorial Day through Labor Day.

Numerous launching ramps are located on the lake for the convenience of boating enthusiasts.  Boats of many descriptions can be found on Berlin Lake during the summer, ranging from small fishing boat and sailboats to cruisers and runabouts of unlimited horsepower.  There is a 10 M.P.H. speed limit on the lake at night.  The usually smooth water surface also provides excellent skiing conditions.  The average depth of the lake is between 10 and 15 feet, but some stumps and snags pose hazards for which boaters should be alert.  Marina services, boating and fishing supplies are also available through concessionaires located at the lake.

Berlin Lake is renowned for its excellent walleye fishing and is one of the very few lakes in the area in which natural reproduction of the walleye population occurs.  Anglers will also enjoy fishing for the largemouth and smallmouth bass, muskie, crappie and bluegill which abound in the lake.

Hunting is permitted at Berlin Lake with the exception of developed recreation areas and posted areas.  The Ohio Department of Natural Resources manages over 6,800 acres of project lands for public hunting and wildlife management purposes.  Small game species in particular are found in abundance and easy access to hunting areas is available.

Current Events

Campfire Programs
Campers! Join us the first Friday of each month throughout the summer for campfire programs held at the amphitheater fire circle. Be sure to check the campground bulletin boards for times and topics as well as other interpretive programs scheduled.

Bicycle Safety Day                                                                                                                      Are you a safe rider? Is your bike properly equipped? Bring your bicycle and come see if you meet the mark when Mahoning County Sheriff’s Deputies host a Bicycle Safety Course on Saturday, June 13^th at 10am. For more information, check with the entrance booth or ask any park ranger.

It's a Water Safety Extravaganza!
Boats, Games, Prizes and More!
Kids!  Come join in the fun and meet Bobber the Water Safety Dog on Saturday, June 20^th from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at Berlin Lake's Day Use Area next to Mill Creek Campground.  Call (330) 547-3781 for more information.

Lend a Hand for Public Lands
Come lend a hand for your public lands on September 19, 2009 at our 6th Annual National Public Lands Day at Berlin Lake.  Projects include shoreline clean-up, tree planting, campsite renovation and painting.  Call (330) 547-3781 for more information.

Campground Reservations
Many campsites at four Pittsburgh District lakes – Berlin Lake, Shenango River Lake, Tionesta Lake and Youghiogheny River Lake – can be reserved in advance through the National Recreation Reservation Service (NRRS), an interagency one-stop center for recreation reservations.  Reservations can be made up to six months before arrival by calling the NRRS toll-free at 1-877-444-6777 or on their web site www.Recreation.gov.  Campsites at all other Pittsburgh District lakes, as well as other campsites at Berlin, Shenango, Tionesta and Youghiogheny, are available on a first-come, first-served basis.

FIREWOOD ALERT!
Don't Move Firewood!  Mahoning and Portage Counties are under quarantine for the movement of firewood in and out. The Ohio Department of Agriculture is trying to stop the spread of the Emerald Ash Borer (EAB), an insect that kills ash trees. For more information regarding the devastation of the EAB go to http://www.emeraldashborer.info/index.cfm.  Campers are warned not to risk steep fines by bringing firewood from these quarantine zones into uninfested regions of the state.  Firewood is offered for sale from local private vendors.

ATV Policy for Berlin Lake
Off-road operation of any motorized vehicle on federal land adjacent to Berlin Lake is prohibited by Federal regulation.  Violation may result in a written warning or citation from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.  Information about federal regulations regarding off-road vehicle operation may be obtained by call the Berlin Lake Office at (330) 547-3781.

Finding of No Signification Impact (FONSI) for Deer Creek Trail
The Stark County Parks District has proposed construction of the Mahoning River Trail which would connect the City of Alliance with the Deer Creek Reservoir and provide a scenic multi-purpose trail along the Mahoning River.  An Environmental Assessment for the proposed trail was prepared by Environmental Design Group, Inc. for Stark County.  After careful review and evaluation of the environmental effects of the proposed trail, the Pittsburgh District prepared a FONSI for the segment of the trial that is on federal land at Berlin Lake.

Day Use Policy at Berlin Lake

For the safety and security of all of Berlin Lake’s visitors, day users who wish to come into the Mill Creek Campground to walk, jog or bicycle during the recreation season must register and obtain a permit at the Contact Station prior to entering. The permit must be visible at all times while in the campground. Activities are limited to two hours per day, Mondays through Thursdays between the hours of 6:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m. Entrance to the campground for these activities is not permitted on weekends and holidays. Parking for day users is permitted only in the Day Use parking lot. Violators of the Mill Creek Campground Day Use Policy will be denied future access to the campground for their activities.

Facilities & Activities

* Accessible portable toilets are available at the Bonner Road Launching Area, Dam Picnic Area,
Deer Creek Recreation Area and Lee’s Bait Shop during the recreation season.

Links of Interest

• Berlin's Corps Lake Visitor's Gateway

• Mill Creek Recreation Area

• Ohio Department of Natural Resources

• Berlin Lake Fishing Map

• Berlin Lake Fishing Prospects

• Corps of Engineers National Water Safety Program

• And for the kids, the Freddie the Fish Coloring Book!