Huntington, W.Va. – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) will waive day use fees normally charged at boat launch ramps and swimming beaches at its recreation areas in recognition of National Public Lands Day on Saturday, Sept. 24, 2016.
The waiver does not apply to camping and camping-related services, or fees for specialized facilities such as group picnic shelters. Other agencies and partners that manage recreation areas located on USACE lands are encouraged, but not required, to comply with this waiver of day use fees in the areas they manage.
In addition, volunteers who participate in one of USACE’s National Public Lands Day activities will be issued a fee-free coupon if the volunteer site is participating in the coupon program. Volunteers should check with their local USACE project for more information. The fee-free coupon is valid for one year from date of issue and may be used for one day of entrance or day use fees at any participating federal agency’s park, forest or recreation area that charges either of these types of fees.
National Public Lands Day is the largest annual volunteer hands-on restoration activity of its kind. In the Huntington District, East Lynn Lake in East Lynn, W.Va., will take part in the event. They’re looking for volunteers to assist USACE employees clean up and conduct maintenance work at the lake Saturday, Sept. 24, 2016, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Activities include trash pickup, hiking trail and recreation area maintenance.
Those wishing to assist with the event should meet at the East Lynn Lakeside Marina Area Boat Ramp at 9 a.m. Volunteers should bring work shoes / boots and gloves. Volunteers will be given directions to work sites for trash pickup and trail maintenance, and garbage bags will be provided.
Those who wish to use their personal boat for lakeshore cleanup may do so and can deposit collected trash at any boat ramp. All volunteers are asked to sign in at the East Lynn Lakeside Marina Area Boat Ramp prior to beginning trash pickup on this day.
The success of this event depends on public response. For more information concerning East Lynn Lake, write to Jeremy Cochenour, Resource Manager, East Lynn Lake, 683 Overlook Trail Road, East Lynn, W.Va. 25512; or call 304-849-2355, or stop by the lake office located at the dam.
Last year, more than 11,000 volunteers participated in National Public Lands Day activities at 114 USACE lakes. The volunteers cleaned 1,001 miles of shoreline, maintained 288 miles of trails, removed 128,000 pounds of trash, and planted approximately 1,300 trees and shrubs on USACE-managed lands.
USACE has been involved with National Public Lands Day since its inception in 1994 and has consistently been one of the event’s largest providers of sites and volunteers. USACE manages more than 400 lake and river projects in 43 states. With 90 percent of these projects located within 50 miles of metropolitan areas, USACE sites provide a wide range of safe and affordable outdoor recreation opportunities close to home.
For more information on National Public Lands Day or to find events near you, visit http://www.publiclandsday.org/ or call your local USACE lake or river office. For more information on USACE recreation opportunities visit www.CorpsLakes.us.