Those heading to Rays­town Lake to picnic, boat, swim, fish or hike should plan to bring trash bags during their visit as the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers announced that the lake’s recreation areas will be designated as “Pack-it-in, Pack-it-out” areas.

The policy went into effect March 25 and most of Rays­town Lake’s dumpsters will be removed, the Army Corps said in a news release.

“Day-use visitors should be prepared to remove all trash they bring into the flood risk management project — including food waste, packaging and other refuse — and dispose of it at home,” the release states.

The policy includes pet waste, the release states, noting that pet owners should be prepared to double-bag pet waste to reduce odors while packing it up to take home.

Dumpsters will remain accessible to reservation holders at Raystown’s Seven Points, Nancy’s Camp Boat-to-Shore and Susquehannock Campgrounds, as well as Seven Points Beach. All dumpsters will be closely monitored, and offenders disposing of household waste are subject to enforcement actions including citations.

The change comes in response to long-standing and escalating misuse of public dumpsters by individuals disposing of household garbage rather than park-generated waste.

According to Raystown Lake Project Manager Allen Gwinn, the decision was made after a summer of intensive monitoring by park rangers revealed that about 80% of the waste disposed of in Raystown Lake dumpsters was household garbage and not trash generated by park visitors.

“This isn’t a new problem. We’ve been dealing with this for decades,” said Gwinn. “But with campgrounds closed and visitation down last season, it became very clear how much of the waste we’re managing has nothing to do with recreation. It’s not just bags of kitchen trash. We’ve seen everything from mattresses, rugs, drywall, and furniture to dead animals, cat litter, propane tanks, and car batteries. It’s not only costly, but also hazardous.”

The agency believes the shift is necessary to maximize resources and realign the lake’s waste management practices with its mission.

“Every dollar we spend hauling off someone’s freezer full of rotting food or a stack of tires is a dollar we’re not spending on maintaining boat launches, restrooms, and trails,” said Gwinn. “And that affects everyone who uses the lake.”

Similar Pack-it-in, Pack-it-out policies are already standard practice across Pennsylvania state parks. Here are a few tips to help guests plan and prepare for a successful trip:

– All the items you brought with you must leave with you, including trash. This includes but is not limited to: Food items, disposable drink containers, bottle caps, wrappers, cigarettes, napkins and more.

– Bring trash bags along and keep them accessible as you set up for the day.

When bringing food, plan for meals with minimal waste by incorporating reusable solutions for beverages and food.

– Reusable water bottles can be refilled at potable water spigots or fountains, including the Raystown Lake Visitor Center and Seven Points picnic shelters and dump station.

– Anglers: Make sure to take all fishing supplies with you, including fishing line, bait containers, tackle and any scraps.

– Boaters: Expect no trash cans at launch sites. All food trash and boating supplies must be taken with you.

– Leashed pets are permitted in designated recreation areas. To protect waste collectors and prevent odors, double-wrap pet waste before adding it to your trash bag for disposal offsite.

For more information about the upcoming policy change and how visitors can prepare, visit the Raystown Lake Project Pack-it-in, Pack-it-out website or contact the USACE Raystown Lake office directly (814) 658-3405 ex 0.