PPL’s Operations at Lake Wallenpaupack Support Delaware River Sojourn

PPL Corporation plans to operate the Lake Wallenpaupack hydroelectric plant on Monday (6/25) to release water from Lake Wallenpaupack, giving canoeists participating in the annual Delaware River Sojourn a rare opportunity to paddle whitewater rapids on the Lackawaxen River.

“Lake Wallenpaupack and the Lackawaxen River play an important role in the community by providing recreational opportunities that bring thousands of visitors to the area each year,” said Brad Piatt, manager of Peaking Power for PPL. “The planned release of water from the lake will give paddlers in the Delaware River Sojourn an unforgettable experience and will have no impact on the lake’s operations.”

The plant will operate from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. June 25, generating electricity and releasing water to ensure a total flow of 1,200 cubic feet per second in the Lackawaxen River. PPL worked with the Delaware River Basin Commission to determine how much water to release from Lake Wallenpaupack in an effort to maintain adequate flow in the Lackawaxen River to produce the best boating conditions for the sojourn.

“Operating the plant provides a clean source of electricity while maintaining the required river flow for the canoeists,” Piatt said.

The Delaware River Sojourn, an annual canoeing and kayaking event that promotes stewardship of the river, will be held from June 24-30. This is the first time participants will be paddling on the Lackawaxen River, a tributary to the Delaware.

In keeping with its license from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, PPL manages the lake to meet all of the interests the lake serves, including renewable electricity generation, recreation, drought relief and flood control.

The release will not have a noticeable effect on the water levels in Lake Wallenpaupack.

Lake Wallenpaupack was built by PPL in 1926 to provide water for the company’s Wallenpaupack hydroelectric power plant. The 5,700-acre lake, on the border of Wayne and Pike counties in the Pocono Mountains, is a valuable regional resource.