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

Published Aug. 3, 2018
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 (Aug 3, 2018) – The U.S. Army Corps Engineers’ Philadelphia District updated the 2018 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 has enabled the Army Corps to schedule the 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th and 9th increments of the plan, which include increased whitewater releases on Aug. 25, Aug. 26, Sept. 1, and Sept 2 and fisheries enhancement releases through Oct. 5. The additions include the following:

4) Add a whitewater event on Sept. 2 and increase fisheries enhancement releases to 100 cubic feet per second for the period of Aug. 11-17.

5) Increase fisheries enhancement releases to 100 cubic feet per second for the period of Aug. 18-Sept. 7

6b) Increase Aug. 25-26 whitewater total releases to 1700 cubic feet per second on Saturday and 1000 cubic feet per second on Sunday.

7) Add fisheries enhancement releases of 50 cubic feet per second for the period of Sept. 8-21.

8b) Increase Sept. 1-2 whitewater total releases to 1700 cubic feet per second on Saturday and 1000 cubic feet per second on Sunday.

9) Add fisheries enhancement releases of 50 cubic feet per second for the period of Sept. 22-Oct. 5.

 The Army Corps will announce at a later date if it is able to hold the final increment of the plan, which includes high volume water releases from Friday, Oct. 5 through Monday, Oct. 8.

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Contact
Steve Rochette
215-656-6432
stephen.rochette@usace.army.mil

Release no. 18-057