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.
December 2021
On Dec. 10, 2021, USACE hosted a meeting to update stakeholder leadership representatives on the status of the study. Meeting slides are available here. USACE has requested additional time and funding to conduct necessary engineering and environmental analyses related to the alternative of increasing storage behind the dam for drought/low flow augmentation.