The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Philadelphia District, in partnership with the Delaware River Basin Commission and New York City Department of Environmental Protection, has initiated a feasibility re-evaluation study for Francis E. Walter Dam and Reservoir.
The primary missions of the F.E. Walter Dam are to reduce flooding risk and support recreation. Aside from these two primary missions, the study will also consider fisheries, additional recreation, water supply and water quality, to identify possible improvements to the existing structure, infrastructure, and F.E. Walter Dam operations. This study will examine whether potential improvements to infrastructure or operational methods could allow water in the reservoir to be used for additional purposes that could support the ecological health of the Delaware River Basin. In particular, the study will examine reservoir management options that could release additional water under drought conditions to help repel salinity downstream.
February 2021 Update
Stakeholders have reached out to the Study Team to inquire about the status of several milestones (including the release of a draft report and associated public meetings). Some of these milestones have been delayed; however the study is still ongoing. Study goals, objectives, and constraints have not changed. The Study Team is currently working through a process to further refine the alternatives that are being considered and the potential timelines associated with analyzing them. The Study Team anticipates hosting a stakeholder working group update meeting in Spring 2021 to share any new information based on this process.