Army Corps shares details for F.E. Walter Dam water releases

USACE Philadelphia District
Published Sept. 30, 2025
A large reservoir of water is pictured in front of a concrete control tower and dam with scenic vista of a creek/river valley in back drop of image.

Francis E. Walter Dam, owned and operated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, operates as a system in conjunction with Beltzville Dam, located in Lehighton PA, to reduce flooding in the downstream communities along the Lehigh River.

The U.S. Army Corps Engineers’ Philadelphia District shared details for the season’s final recreational water releases from the Francis E. Walter Dam.

The recreation plan allows for a large volume of remaining water storage to be released during the second weekend of October to draw down the reservoir to its winter elevation. Due to the dry season, minimal forecasted rainfall and limited surplus of water storage remaining, a ‘mega release’ will not be possible this year.

As a result, USACE will be using this remaining water storage to augment downstream flows until the reservoir reaches its winter pool elevation of 1300 feet NGVD29 (estimated to occur on/around Columbus Day). Water releases will generally be in the range of 300 cubic feet per second.

During the 2025 recreation season, USACE held 24 whitewater releases and 22 fishing enhancement releases.


Contact
Steve Rochette
stephen.rochette@usace.army.mil

Release no. 25-027