The U.S. Army Corps Engineers’ Philadelphia District released the 2014 Flow Management Plan for the Francis E. Walter Dam in White Haven, Penn. The plan, developed in partnership with Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission, and the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, lists dates and release amounts for whitewater and fisheries releases for the 2014 recreation season.
The plan incorporates minor changes from the previous year. In 2014, water will again be allocated to ensure whitewater releases from July to mid-August and fisheries releases from July to early September. Seasonal precipitation and water accumulation will be used for releases later in the season (late August through mid-October).
The whitewater release schedule includes 21 dates with the potential for an additional five dates if sufficient water storage is accumulated in the reservoir. Planned white water release dates are:
May: 10, 17, 24, 25
June: 7, 8, 21, 22
July: 5, 6, 19, 20, 26, 27
August: 2, 3, 9, 10, 16, 17, 23*, 24*, 30*, 31*
October 11, 12**
*Dependent on additional water accumulation in reservoir
**The 10-13 October release is for both fishing and white water and will only occur if sufficient stored water is available. This is the last added increment for the 2014 recreation plan and is intended to release all excess water. (See plan for full details)
All other dates during the recreation season will have a fisheries augmentation release of at least 50 cubic feet per second if sufficient water is available. Planned dates for fishing releases (target 400 cubic feet per second) are:
April 12*-13*, 19*-20*, 26*-27*
May 3*-4*, 11*, 18*
October 10, 13
* Release will be set to match inflow with a target release up to 400 cubic feet per second
Late season white water, fishing and fisheries enhancement releases are dependent upon precipitation and water accumulation. All dates are dependent on hydrologic conditions and the absence of the need for flood control operations. View the full plan here.