Local

National Public Lands Day: Fees waived at Berlin Lake this Saturday

By Kelcey Norris Mahoning Matters

September 21, 2023 4:00 AM

Luke Losey fishes with his dog, Milo, on the East Branch Clarion River Lake in Wilcox, Pennsylvania, May 1, 2021. Michel Sauret U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

Celebrate the end of the week by hitting the water for no fees at Berlin Lake and bordering recreation areas.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers just announced they’re waiving the day-use fees typically charged at boat launch ramps and swimming beaches at its recreation areas nationwide in recognition of National Public Lands Day this Saturday.

This doesn’t include camping service charges or fees for specialized facilities such as group picnic shelters.

This is the full list of regional recreation areas that won’t charge fees for boat launch ramps and beach access:

Belin Lake (330-654-0865) – 7400 Bendell Road, Berlin Center, OH
Loyalhanna Lake (724-639-9013) – 440 Loyalhanna Dam Road, Saltsburg, PA
Mahoning Creek Lake (814-257-8811) – 145 Dam Site Road, New Bethlehem, PA
Shenango River Lake (724-962-7746) – 2442 Kelly Road, Hermitage, PA
Stonewall Jackson Lake (304-269-4588) – 1012 Skin Creek Road, Weston, WV
Tionesta Lake (814-755-3512) – 477 Spillway Road, Tionesta, PA
Tygart Lake (304-265-1760) – 530 Paul E. Malone Road, Grafton, WV
Youghiogheny River Lake (814-395-3242) – 497 Flanigan Road, Confluence, PA

Fee-free and clean-up day at Berlin Lake, Shenango River Lake

In addition to the fee-free day, Berlin Lake and Shenango River Lake are having public service events on Saturday to clean up the area:

Belin Lake (330-654-0865) – 7400 Bendell Road, Berlin Center, OH, at 9 - 11 a.m. Clean-up supplies will be provided.

Shenango River Lake (724-962-7746) – 2442 Kelly Road, Hermitage, PA, at 9 - 11 a.m. for clean-up plus tree-planting.

Volunteering

Volunteers will help clean up any litter on beaches and trails at both spots.

The USACE manages more than 400 lake and river projects in 43 states, according to the release.

Be one of the thousands of volunteers expected to participate in the USACE clean-up projects in this year’s National Public Lands Day.

According to the USACE, last year, 6,990 volunteers showed up to volunteer.

They helped by removing 86,394 pounds of trash, cleaning 852 miles of roadways and shoreline, maintaining 90 miles of trails and improving 1,044 acres of habitat in the country.

Learn more on the USACE website.