Record-setting levels of precipitation recently have highlighted the role Lake Wallenpaupack plays in helping control flooding along the Lackawaxen and upper Delaware watersheds.

Flood control is one of the many purposes Lake Wallenpaupack serves. The lake also supports drought relief and public recreation, and is a source of clean, renewable energy.

“PPL manages the lake for a variety of purposes and in ways that best serve the entire watershed,” said Brad Piatt, manager of Peaking Power for PPL. “During the recent heavy rains, the lake held 6 billion gallons of water, which reduced the peak flow of water going downstream by 79 percent.

“There is still sufficient room in the lake to hold water from a major storm,” he said. “Because of the lake’s storage ability, that water can now be released gradually over time.”

In late winter and early spring, lake levels are kept low so that the lake can hold more water from heavy rains and snow melt. Lake levels are higher in the summer to support drought relief and recreational uses.

During the recent rainy period, PPL operated the Wallenpaupack hydroelectric plant to help manage lake level and maintain the capacity to store water. The hydroelectric plant helps control the lake level because it uses water from the lake to generate electricity.

PPL’s management of the lake level throughout the period accounted for the expected heavy rainfall and the snowpack already on the ground in the watershed. Before the storm on March 4, the lake was 60 percent full. After several days of rain, the lake was 75 percent full. PPL is continuing to manage the lake level by operating the hydroelectric plant.

To help in balancing the many purposes served by Lake Wallenpaupack, PPL receives input from an advisory panel.

“The input of the advisory committee and its subcommittees has been very valuable to PPL,” said Paul Canevari, PPL community relations director for the Pocono region. “We appreciate the involvement of elected officials and community leaders in meeting our responsibilities as the lake operator.”

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.

PPL Corporation (NYSE: PPL), headquartered in Allentown, Pa., controls more than 11,000 megawatts of generating capacity in the United States, sells energy in key U.S. markets and delivers electricity to more than 4 million customers in Pennsylvania, the United Kingdom and Latin America.