Huntington District

From all of us at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Huntington District, we hope you have a safe and Happy Thanksgiving!

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will host a free open house and will offer two guided tours of the dam at Delaware Lake on July 26, 2013. One tour will begin at 9 a.m. and the second tour at 1 p.m.

The event is open to the public. Tours will begin at the top of the dam by the tower. A Park Ranger will provide an informative tour and explain interesting facts about the dam operations and how it contributes to the local ecosystem and demographics of surrounding communities.

The Delaware Lake Dam Project Office is located at 3920 U.S. Highway 23 North in Delaware, Ohio, and is open daily from 8 a.m to 4 p.m. The office features a historic pictoral chronology of the dam construction.

Please call (740) 363-4011 for assistance with special needs prior to the tour date.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will be providing tours of the dam at Paint Creek Lake in Bainbridge, Ohio, on July 19 and 20, 2013.

The open house and tours are designed to provide the public with the opportunity to learn more about the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers operations at the lake, recreational opportunities and water safety.

The open house and tours at Paint Creek Lake are scheduled for July 19 from 9 a.m. until noon and July 20 from noon until 2 p.m. The tour will begin at the Corps office.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will be providing tours of Deer Creek Lake Dam on July 27 and 28, 2013, from noon to 1 p.m.

The tours are offered to provide the public with opportunities to learn more about the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers operations at Deer Creek Lake, recreational opportunities and water safety.

Tours are only open to those who sign up in advance. To sign up for a tour or for more information, call 740-869-2243.

     The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has announced new traffic restrictions on the bridge leading to East Fork Campground at East Lynn Lake. The bridge will now be one lane and vehicles are limited to six tons. Campers, boaters and visitors to the day use facilities need to be aware of these restrictions.

     All vehicles traveling across the bridge located on East Fork Road just south of W. Va. State Route 37 are subject to these new restrictions. The bridge has been reduced to a single 12-foot-wide lane with a maximum allowable load of six tons. This is the only way to access East Fork Campground. The East Fork campground will open on Friday, May 10, 2013. 

     For more information contact East Lynn Lake at 304-849-2355 or call Public Affairs at 304-399-5353.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will hold its Third Annual “Rake the Lake” Spring Clean-up at Sutton Lake on Saturday, May 4, from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m.

Volunteers are encouraged to bring their boats and head to their favorite cove, or drive or hike into more remote areas. Bags, gloves, grabbers and other supplies will be provided.

During the previous “Rake the Lake: efforts, volunteers have removed over eight tons of trash from Sutton Lake, and their efforts are clearly seen in several areas, including Wolf Creek and the Tunnel Road area below Bakers Run Campground.

Many large items have been removed thru this effort, including over 400 tires, several mattresses, refrigerators, and other cast-off appliances.

The event is hosted by the Corps of Engineers at Sutton Lake, the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection, Sutton Lake Marina and the Braxton Citizen’s News.

At the conclusion of the day, numerous local businesses sponsor a cook-out at Sutton Lake Marina to thank those who participate. The first 200 registered participants also receive a T-Shirt.

“Rake the Lake” is open to everyone. If you’d like to volunteer, call the Sutton Lake Project Office at 304-765-2816 or e-mail SuttonLake@usace.army.mil to register. If you don’t have a favorite place you want to work, we will suggest an area in particular need of attention.

To find out more about the Huntington District’s activities, please follow us on Facebook at: www.facebook.com/pages/Huntington-District-US-Army-Corps-of-Engineers/114765368571322 .

The Lilly Bridge located on WV State Route 20 that crosses the Bluestone Lake is being replaced, and the work will mean some changes for boaters in that area of the lake.

The WV Department of Transportation Division of Highways has awarded a contract to Brayman Construction Company from Saxonburg, Pa., for the bridge replacement. Work on the bridge has started and it is anticipated that the construction period will last approximately three years.

The work involved includes building a new bridge adjacent to and upstream from the existing bridge and the removal of approximately 250,000 cubic yards of material on the north approach to the bridge.

During the construction there will be some restrictions to the visitors of Bluestone Lake. The water area directly underneath the existing bridge will be closed to boat traffic on Bluestone Lake. The land area directly underneath the existing bridge will also be closed to vehicle and foot traffic. These restrictions are necessary for visitor safety as part of the construction work limits.

To serve the boaters of Bluestone Lake, the WV Department of Natural Resources Division of Fisheries has built a new boat ramp at the Bluestone Lake boat launching area known as “Pits Road.” This new boat ramp is open to the public and was funded through mitigation funding by the WV Division of Highways.

Boaters may still access the Bluestone River section of Bluestone Lake down to the Lilly Bridge area, but access will be via the Bluestone State Park boat ramp located below the Bluestone State Park Office.

During the construction, both the Bluestone Marina and Bluestone boat launching area “Pits Road” will remain open to the public. Boaters may experience some congestion and minor delays during the construction.

Due to the construction activity it is necessary to have these restricted areas on Bluestone Lake for the safety of boaters and visitors.

The replacement of the Lilly Bridge will be welcome news for travelers on WV State Route 20 and the visitors to Bluestone Lake. Over the years the Lilly Bridge has continued to deteriorate and this bridge replacement project will greatly improve the safety along this section of WV State Route 20.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Bluestone State Park, WV Department of Natural Resources, and WV Division of Highways appreciate your understanding and patience during this construction period.

For more information, contact Public Affairs at 304-399-5353.