News Release

Goats return to Johnstown Flood National Memorial

News Release Date: June 29, 2021

Contact: Elizabeth Shope, 814-449-4125

The goats have returned to Johnstown Flood National Memorial as the park continues the Lakebed Rehabilitation Project. Allegheny Goatscape, based out of Pittsburgh, PA, supplied a herd of goats to assist in clearing vegetation in the lakebed as the project moves forward. The mission of Allegheny Goatscape is to “reduce invasive and unwanted vegetation in public spaces and vacant lots, utilizing goats for browsing.”   

The goats are eco-friendly and help lay the groundwork for future clearing. Allegheny Goatscape provided fencing for the herd. Park staff and volunteers will help care for the goats by providing water to the herd daily. The goats eat approximately one acre every two weeks. This portion of the project could continue until the fall.  

The public is welcome to view the herd at the North Abutment during the time that park grounds are open. Park grounds are open daily from sunrise to sunset.  

Parking at the North Abutment is limited. Please park in designated parking spaces only. 

Please do not touch the fence line or feed the animals. It is electric for the safety of the animals.

Throughout the Lakebed Rehabilitation Project, special care will be taken to protect wetland areas and the stream in the lakebed. The project will restore areas of the lakebed to what it looked like shortly after the flood, enhancing the visitor experience at the memorial. The secondary goal of the project is to have areas outside of the wetlands and stream flourish with low lying vegetation and native grass and plants that can be maintained by the National Park Service. Rehabilitation was done in the lakebed in the 1980s, but the vegetation has since grown back.