Army Corps of Engineers requires face masks at all recreation projects

As the nation works to slow the spread of COVID-19, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Philadelphia District reminds all visitors, volunteers, and employees that a face mask is required in all USACE buildings and facilities. Masks must also be worn outdoors on USACE-managed lands and recreation areas if physical distancing cannot be met, such as when hiking on trails or visiting sites that may be popular or crowded.

In eastern Pennsylvania, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Philadelphia District owns and operates Blue Marsh Lake, Beltzville Dam, Francis E. Walter Dam, Prompton Dam, and Jadwin Dam. At Beltzville and Prompton, the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources manages the state parks and has similar mask requirements in place. For information specific to state parks facilities please visit www.dcnr.pa.gov/StateParks      

Visitors actively engaged in water-related activities with a clear and immediate risk of masks becoming wet may temporarily forgo wearing masks. These activities may include but are not limited to swimming, waterskiing, riding on personal watercraft, kayaking and other boating related activities that present a clear and immediate risk to the mask becoming wet. However, physical distancing must always be maintained whenever possible. 

This requirement complies with President Biden’s Executive Order on Protecting the Federal Workforce and Requiring Mask-Wearing, issued Jan. 20, as well as guidance provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

USACE is one of the nation’s leading federal providers of outdoor and water-based recreation, hosting millions of visits annually to its more than 400 lake and river projects. It’s estimated that 90 percent of the USACE-operated recreation areas are within 50 miles of metropolitan areas, offering diverse outdoor activities for all ages close to home.                                                                 

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