Philadelphia District News Releases

Army Corps to present at Wayne County Commissioners public meeting on Jadwin Dam Master Plan revision

Press Operations — Wed, 04 Mar 2026 18:54:00 GMT

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will present at the Wayne County Commissioners working session on March 10, 2026, to kick off a process to revise the 1959 General Edgar Jadwin Dam Master Plan (originally titled Dyberry Reservoir).

USACE to host open house to share info on Draft Beltzville Lake Master Plan

Press Operations — Fri, 19 Dec 2025 19:21:45 GMT

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will host an open house on January 7, 2026, to share details on a draft revision of the Beltzville Lake Master Plan. The open house will be held from 4-6 p.m. at the Towamensing Township Volunteer Fire Company. The public open house will cover the proposed changes to the current Beltzville Lake Master Plan. Team members will share instructions on how to submit comments and provide an opportunity for the public to ask questions and provide feedback. A 30-day public comment period will begin on January 7, 2026 and end on February 6, 2026.

Army Corps shares update on Francis E. Walter Dam water release schedule

Press Operations — Thu, 21 Aug 2025 14:08:00 GMT

PHILADELPHIA (August 21, 2025) – The U.S. Army Corps Engineers’ Philadelphia District updated the 2025 Francis E. Walter Dam recreation plan.

Army Corps shares update on Francis E. Walter Dam water release schedule

Press Operations — Fri, 15 Aug 2025 14:22:33 GMT

The U.S. Army Corps Engineers’ Philadelphia District updated the 2025 Francis E. Walter Dam recreation plan. The Army Corps updated the plan, which states whitewater and fisheries releases will be scheduled if enough water storage is accumulated in the reservoir. Currently, there is enough water storage to schedule the 8th and 9th increments of the 2025 Recreation Plan.

STATUS UPDATE: Access Restrictions for Paving Projects at Blue Marsh Lake

Press Operations — Tue, 15 Apr 2025 14:04:44 GMT

LEESPORT, PA (15 APRIL 2025) – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Philadelphia District had announced various areas will be closed for public access due to paving and construction activities involved with the rehabilitation of park roadways.

Army Corps awards contract for Abington Environmental Infrastructure project

Press Operations — Mon, 07 Oct 2024 14:22:18 GMT

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Philadelphia District has awarded a $2.1 million contract to Lucianos Excavation Inc. to stabilize, naturalize, and improve ecosystem function along Sandy Run Creek at Roychester Park and Grove Park in Abington Township, Pennsylvania.

Reflecting on Hurricane Agnes 50 Years Later

Press Operations — Mon, 06 Jun 2022 20:43:00 GMT

Half a century ago, in late June 1972, one of the most devasting and historic hurricanes the United States had experienced formed in the Gulf of Mexico. Hurricane Agnes made landfall in Florida as a Category 1 storm. It was downgraded as it traveled north and was a tropical storm when it made another landfall in New York and merged with a non-tropical storm system over Pennsylvania, causing significant and widespread damage throughout the Mid-Atlantic. Rainfall from Agnes caused catastrophic inland flooding, the geographic scale of which had not been seen in decades. Tragically, 128 people lost their lives across eight states, with the states hardest hit being Pennsylvania, New York, Maryland and Virginia. Across the eastern United States, more than 362,000 people were forced to evacuate their homes due to the flooding, including 222,000 in Pennsylvania alone.

UPDATE: Army Corps updates road closure status at Francis E. Walter Dam

Press Operations — Thu, 17 Sep 2020 16:44:00 GMT

The U.S. Army Corps Engineers’ Philadelphia District announced the Route 940 entrance to the Francis E. Walter Dam will reopen on Sept. 21, 2020 (delayed from the previously announced date of Sept. 18, 2020). The Bear Creek White Haven Road entrance to the dam will then close to traffic as road repairs shift to that area.

Army Corps updates water release schedule at Francis E. Walter Dam

Press Operations — Tue, 11 Aug 2020 17:03:10 GMT

The U.S. Army Corps Engineers’ Philadelphia District updated the 2020 Francis E. Walter Dam Flow Management Plan. The Army Corps updated the plan, which states whitewater and fisheries releases will be scheduled if enough water storage is accumulated in the reservoir.

Army Corps of Engineers reports an increase in adult drowning at its lake and river projects this summer

Press Operations — Sat, 11 Jul 2020 00:10:00 GMT

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers announced today that more than 30 people lost their lives to drowning in June at lake and river projects the agency manages. The June statistics represent a 47 percent increase in drownings over the same time period last year. USACE also reported that nearly all the drowning victims were adult males between the ages of 18 and 85 and were not wearing a life jacket at the time of the drowning.

Blue Marsh Lake Swimming Beach to Open; Restrictions in Place for Holiday Weekend

Press Operations — Wed, 01 Jul 2020 17:45:00 GMT

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers announced the swimming beach at Blue Marsh Lake will open to the public on July 2, 2020. The bathhouse and shower facilities at the beach will also open. Visitation in the Dry Brooks Day Use Area will be limited to 75% capacity. Park Rangers will be monitoring the visitation and closing the area as needed.

Blue Marsh Lake Stilling Basin Closure Announcement

Press Operations — Tue, 23 Jun 2020 19:49:00 GMT

Beginning on June 29, 2020, portions of the Blue Marsh Lake Stilling Basin and Multi-Use Trail will be closed to the public. This closure is related to the ongoing Western Berks Water Authority pipeline construction project to connect the treatment plant directly to the dam.

Army Corps announces road closure at Francis E. Walter Dam

Press Operations — Wed, 10 Jun 2020 14:06:00 GMT

The U.S. Army Corps Engineers’ Philadelphia District announced the Route 940 entrance to the Francis Walter Dam will be closed due to road repairs and paving work starting June 17th.

Army Corps observes National Dam Safety Awareness Day

Press Operations — Thu, 28 May 2020 16:23:37 GMT

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Philadelphia District recognizes National Dam Safety Awareness Day on May 31, which commemorates the 1889 failure of the South Fork Dam in Johnstown, Pa. The event was the nation’s worst dam failure and resulted in more than 2000 deaths. The USACE Philadelphia District owns and operates five earthfill dams in eastern Pennsylvania, which have prevented approximately $415 million in flood damages since their construction

Army Corps and partners to host public meeting for Francis. E. Walter Dam Re-evaluation study

Press Operations — Wed, 11 Dec 2019 12:36:00 GMT

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and its partners, the Delaware River Basin Commission (DRBC) and the New York City Department of Environmental Protection, are hosting a public meeting regarding a re-evaluation study for the Francis E. Walter Dam and Reservoir on Jan. 9, 2020 at the Mountain Laurel Resort in White Haven, Pa.