Releases on the Lehigh from Francis E Walter Dam vary from 650 to 800 cfs and last 12 hours. Final release amounts and durations for white water events will be determined and posted on the Corps webpage the Wednesday prior to the event (see Event Page link below). If sufficient water is available, each scheduled white water event will be held at the full amount before subsequent planned white water events will be scheduled. Additional whitewater releases will not be scheduled unless water stored is sufficient to allow at least a 12 hour release of 600 cfs. As additional releases become possible due to accumulation of water, the additional increments of the recreation plan will be announced. Due to the fact that timing of the white water and fisheries portions of increments 1-4 are significantly offset, if water is not available for the entire increment, that increment will be cancelled and excess water will be retained for subsequent increments. For increments 5 through 10, if sufficient water is not available for the entire increment, adjustments will be made by reducing the magnitude of white water releases or number of days fisheries releases will be made. Any additional adjustments deemed necessary will be made through interagency coordination and announced as necessary. Following this procedure may mean that incremental releases become scheduled or modified with little advance notice.

Issue:

Local paddling clubs and outfitters have been stalwart advocates for releases on the Lehigh, with AW support.