PHILADELPHIA, PA (JULY 20, 2018) – The U.S. Army Corps Engineers Philadelphia District has announced it will draw down the pool level at Blue Marsh Lake in preparation for significant forecasted rainfall. The lake is located on the Tulpehocken Creek, a tributary of the Schuylkill River, about four miles northwest of Reading, Pa.
The pool will be lowered to elevation 285 down from the normal summer pool level of elevation 290. Water releases of 1500 cubic feet per second began on July 20th and will continue leading up to the rainfall based on downstream conditions. The drawdown is being done to create additional upstream runoff capacity in the reservoir.
Blue Marsh Lake was constructed in 1979 and has prevented more than $95 million in flood damages in the Schuylkill River basin.
Release no. 18-040