Army Corps to make additional recreational water releases from Francis E. Walter Dam

PHILADELPHIA (September 9, 2015) – The U.S. Army Corps Engineers’ Philadelphia District has updated the 2015 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 season has enabled the Army Corps to add the final increments of the plan, which include fisheries enhancement releases from Sept. 26-Oct. 8 and a final water release weekend starting on Friday, Oct. 9 through Monday, Oct. 12.  

The specific increments include:

• 9. Add fisheries enhancement releases of 50 cubic feet per second for the period of Sept. 26 through Oct. 8.
• 10. Water storage in excess of above flow needs may be released during the period from Friday, Oct. 9 through Monday, Oct. 12. The release rate will be based on the amount of water available. Planned total release will be 400 cubic feet per second on Friday, the 9th; 1700 cubic feet per second on Saturday the 10th; 1000 cubic feet per second on Sunday the 11th; and 400 cubic feet per second on Monday the 12th. Flow ramping starting on Oct. 9 and ending on Oct. 12 will allow both float fishing and whitewater opportunities during the final drawdown of the reservoir to the winter pool elevation of 1300. Final scheduling and amount of this release will be determined by the Army Corps and posted by Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2015.

During the 2015 recreation season, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' Philadelphia District has held all 24 scheduled whitewater releases and numerous fisheries enhancement water releases at the Francis E. Walter Dam.