Baltimore District > Missions > Dams & Recreation

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US Army Corps of Engineers

Baltimore District Website

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Overview

The Army Corps of Engineers is the steward of the lands and waters at Corps water resources projects. Its Natural Resources Management mission is to manage and conserve those natural resources, consistent with the ecosystem management principles, while providing quality public outdoor recreation experiences to serve the needs of present and future generations. On 26 May 2011, the USACE Recreation community announced the public release of the USACE National Recreation Program Strategic Plan, which seeks to transform and reposition the recreation program while maintaining the agency's role as a major federal, water-based recreation provider. Visit the Corps Lakes Gateway for your gateway to recreation opportunities at Corps lands and waters.

The Baltimore District regulates 17 reservoirs in the State of Maryland, West Virginia, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the State of New York. To obtain information regarding the regulation of these reservoirs please visit our Water Resources Page (with the exception of Indian Rock and Arkport Dams). All of these projects listed below offer a variety of recreational opportunities. Projects whose recreation is managed by the Corps of Engineers offer on-line reservations for camping through the National Recreation Reservation Service. For information on reserving campsites at the other projects, please contact the park manager at the phone number provided in the link.

The district also executes a risk-informed Dam Safety Program that includes inspections and repair work for its dams.

Policy for Operations of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (Drones)

It is incumbent upon visitors of USACE recreation projects to know the rules concerning use of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), such as drones.

UAS pose a potential risk to USACE personnel, safety, infrastructure, equipment and mission conduct.

In accordance with Title 36 CFR, Parks, Forest and Public Property, Parts 327.4(b) and (c), UAS are prohibited from flying over any USACE projects, except over lands designated by the District Commander or Operations Project Manager.

If a person is operating a UAS in undesignated areas, without exclusive permission, or recklessly, local law enforcement may be called upon.

Please adhere to the information in the "Policy for Operations of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) at Corps Operations Division Project Lands of the Baltimore District."

New York Dams & Recreation

Listing of New York Recreation and Dams

Maryland and West Virginia Dams & Recreation

Listing of West Virginia Dams and Recreation.

Jennings Randolph Lake

Pennsylvania Dams & Recreation

Listing of Pennsylvania Recreation & Dams

Dam Safety Program

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Baltimore District, and Huntingdon County Visitors Bureau hosted a ribbon cutting ceremony celebrating the debut of two disc golf courses located at the Seven Points Campground at Raystown Lake, April 14, 2023.

RAYSTOWN LAKE, Pa. —The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Baltimore District, has closed or delayed the opening of Corps-owned and managed recreation sites indefinitely, effective immediately, due to the concern for public health and safety of its employees and the visiting public during the COVID-19 pandemic.

However, the plan is to keep day-use facilities and lake access areas open, such as boat launches, picnic areas, fishing piers, and viewing areas. These areas are, however, subject to evolving COVID-19 conditions and may need to eventually close at specific sites.

Corps staff and local partners participated in a joint, full-scale emergency response exercise at Jennings Randolph Lake, located between Garrett County, Maryland, and Mineral County, West Virginia, on Saturday, Oct. 28, 2017.

DNR staff stock trout into the North Branch of the Potomac River, May 10, 2017.

Snyder's Run Paddle with a Park Ranger Program

Volunteer Village at Raystown Lake accepts volunteers looking to reside for the summer at Raystown Lake and commit 20-30 hours a week.

Wear your lifejacket and receive prizes from our Park Rangers!

Check out the mountain bike skills park across from the Raystown Lake Visitor Center!

Resources

Baltimore and Washington, D.C. recreation flyer

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is the largest provider of water-based outdoor recreation in the nation. The Corps' Baltimore District regulates 17 reservoirs in the State of Maryland, West Virginia, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the State of New York. All of these projects offer a variety of affordable recreational opportunities, and many of them are within 200 miles of the Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Virginia corridor (click here to expand photo).