The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Pittsburgh District has temporarily closed select campsites at Shenango River Lake to protect a nesting pair of federally-protected bald eagles in compliance with federal wildlife laws. The temporary closures began on May 9.
Campers with reservations at impacted campgrounds will automatically receive full refunds. To view alternate availabilities and book new reservations, campers should visit recreation.gov….
Biologists recently observed a mating pair of bald eagles with at least one eaglet in a nest located in the Pine Loop of the campground, between campsites 106 and 108. In compliance with the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act, the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service guidelines, the corps will implement a 330-foot no-disturbance buffer around the active nest to ensure the eagle’ safety.
“We are committed to both conservation and customer service” said Bill Spring, the supervisory resource manager at Shenango River Lake. “These bald eagles chose Shenango as their home because of the healthy habitats we maintain, and we appreciate the understanding and flexibility of our campers as we work to protect these iconic birds.”
This buffer zone impacts 154 reservations across 58 campsites, which is approximately 18 percent of the total sites at Shenango River Lake. Roads and pedestrian access within the buffer zone will be restricted until the eaglets fledge, which is expected to occur in early July.
Rangers and biologists will monitor the nest weekly. If the eaglets fledge sooner than expected, the closed campsites may reopen earlier. If not, the closure will extend in one-week increments, based on the status of the nest.
The corps asks visitors to respect the buffer zone and avoid any activities that may cause the eagles to abandon the nest.
About: The Pittsburgh District covers 26,000 square miles, including parts of western Pennsylvania, northern West Virginia, eastern Ohio, western Maryland, and southwestern New York. It manages over 328 miles of navigable waterways, 22 navigation locks and dams, 16 multi-purpose flood-control reservoirs, and 42 local flood-protection projects, working to protect and enhance the nation’s water resources infrastructure and environment.
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