This area has become very popular for observing Bald Eagles fishing and interacting during the winter months.

Bald Eagles

This site offers access to several viewing points for looking at the water, as well as access to the tailwater. The beach area provides viewing place for the water, once the summer hordes clear out. Once winter hits, the steep road to the beach is closed. Before this, it offers a roosting point for late gulls. There are roads which leads down to the Tailwater on both the E and E sides of the outflow. The West Tailwater access affords a nice few down stream. http://www.mvr.usace.army.mil/Portals/48/docs/Recreation/ODC/AllTrails2013.pdf leads to a map of the trails.
South of North Liberty in Johnson Co. ABOVE THE DAM(beach): Two miles north of I-80 along Dubuque St. (an Iowa City exit), or 2.5 miles south of North Liberty along Dubuque St., look for the Army Corps of Engineers sign to the dam on the east. From there follow the signs for the beach area. MORE VIEWING: At one point you have a choice of heading toward the beach/dam area (right) or the campground (left); the campground also affords viewing of the reservoir.
Open water and forest. Directly opposite the Headquarters, one can find the Veterans Trail -- a fully accessible trail that loops a short distance through the woods. It leads to a bird blind. One the East side a group of trails lead into the forest. Best is the Woodpecker Trail.

This area has a large concentration of waterfowl and pelicans during migration. When water levels are right, large concentrations of shorebirds are found here during migration. The woodlands in the area produce significant numbers of migrating songbirds. Bald Eagle and Double-crested Cormorants nest in the area. There are large numbers of raptors in the area, some during migration and following the shorebirds, some nesting, and some wintering, such as Long and Short-eared Owls, Northern Harrier, and Rough-legged Hawk. There are heron rookeries, and large numbers of wading birds use the area during post breeding dispersal. The number of rare birds that have been found here over the years is quite large.

From highway 965 one and three-quarters miles north of North Liberty, go west on the Swan Lake Road to areas on the south side of Hawkeye WA. To reach areas on the north side, go west from highway 965 on the first road north of the reservoir (Amana Road).

River Walk Trail