At this location, the Ohio-West Virginia state line is near the Ohio side of the river. Birds seen on the other side of the Ohio River are in West Virginia. When reporting birds from the Ohio hotspot use multiple incomplete checklists as described below.

Ohio eBird reviewers ask that birders keep precise state and county lists. When you are at a location where you see birds across a state or county line, we ask that you keep two incomplete birding lists, one for each side of the border.

When keeping separate checklists for different sides of a border, please follow these rules:

• For both checklists, the answer to “Is this a complete checklist of the birds you were able to identify?” must be “No“, because each list intentionally omits birds in the other geopolitical area.
• Use your exact location for birds detected on your side of the border; create a personal location directly across from you on the opposite side of the border for the birds you detect on that side. (You can also select an appropriate hotspot for either side of the border, but only if it accurately describes your location on your side or the general vicinity of the birds on the other side.)
• If you freely crossed back and forth across the border while birding, choose an incomplete Stationary or Traveling protocol for both checklists. If you could not freely cross the border while birding, use the “Incidental” protocol for the checklist on the inaccessible side. Do not use the Stationary or Traveling protocol for any lists plotted to counties, states, or provinces you did not actually bird within.
• We recommend focusing on one side of the border at a time instead of trying to keep two lists at once (you will not be able to keep simultaneous lists running on eBird Mobile if you are using tracks).

Willow Island Locks and Dam replace three obsolete locks and dams and provide a navigable pool to Hannibal Locks and Dam on the Ohio River. This facility is located on the Ohio River, 161.7 miles downstream from Pittsburgh, and 3.4 miles upstream from Waverly. It replaced Locks and Dams No. 15, 16, and 17.

Construction began in January 1967 and the total project is 100 percent complete. The locks construction contract was awarded in October 1968 and placed in operation in January 1972. Dam construction was initiated in December 1971 and completed in 1976. The pool was raised to full height in September 1975.

There is an eBird hotspot, Willow Island Fishng Access, on the West Virginia side of the river.