COWANESQUE LAKE, Pa. -- Tompkins Campground at the Tioga-Hammond and Cowanesque Lakes project in Tioga County, Pennsylvania, will reopen on Monday, June 30 and will remain open until Tuesday, October 14, extending its normal recreation season closure by nearly six weeks.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Baltimore District, closed access to the campgrounds on March 13, following initiation of a federal civilian hiring freeze on March 2 that resulted in staffing shortages which prevented safe operations of the facilities.
USACE Baltimore District submitted a hiring exemption request in March for impacted recreation projects, which has been approved, allowing adequate staff to be hired and begin mandatory training required for safely operating various project facilities.
“We are thrilled to have the Tompkins Campground reopened prior to the Independence Day holiday,” said Baltimore District commander, Col. Francis Pera. “Our recreation staff is trained and ready to provide visitors a safe and memorable experience for the remainder of the season.”
All reservations made prior to the closure announcement were cancelled. New reservations are required for the remainder of the camping season and may be booked starting June 12 utilizing Recreation.gov. Users may experience initial booking delays as the website updates following closures. For assistance with reservations, visit https://help.recreation.gov/helpcenter.
###
About Cowanesque Lake
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers manages Cowanesque Lake to provide flood risk management, recreation, and environmental stewardship. The area attracts thousands of visitors annually, offering camping, boating, fishing, hiking, and wildlife observation opportunities.
For more information about Cowanesque Lake and upcoming conservation projects, visit https://www.nab.usace.army.mil/Missions/Dams-Recreation/Cowanesque-Lake/