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

Published July 18, 2017
The Francis E. Walter Dam was constructed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in 1961 and has prevented more than $220 million in flood damages. It also supports recreation in the Lehigh Valley with planned fishing and whitewater rafting water releases.

The Francis E. Walter Dam was constructed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in 1961 and has prevented more than $220 million in flood damages. It also supports recreation in the Lehigh Valley with planned fishing and whitewater rafting water releases.

PHILADELPHIA (July 18, 2017) – The U.S. Army Corps Engineers’ Philadelphia District updated the 2017 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. Precipitation throughout the early part of the summer has enabled the Army Corps to schedule the first three increments of the plan, which includes the following additions:

1) Whitewater release event on August 26 (650 cubic feet per second) and increase fisheries enhancement releases to 100 cubic feet per second for the period of July 22-28.

2) Whitewater release event on August 27 (650 cubic feet per second) and increase fisheries enhancement releases to 100 cubic feet per second for the period of July 29-August 4.

3) Whitewater event on September 2 (650 cubic feet per second) and increase fisheries enhancement releases to 100 cubic feet per second for the period of August 5-11 

The Army Corps will announce at a later date if it is able to hold additional whitewater and fisheries releases. 
Contact
Steve Rochette
215-656-6432

Release no. 17-017