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PPL's Wallenpaupack hydroelectric plant is powered by the water contained by a 1,280-foot-long and 70-foot-high dam, which creates the popular 5,700-acre Lake Wallenpaupack. The lake has many benefits beyond clean, renewable electricity generation. The generation process begins when water from the bottom of the lake flows into a 14-foot-wide pipe called a flow line.
The water travels 3.5 miles through the flow line to the power plant where it spins two turbines as it rushes past them. The turbines spin within each of the two generators to create 44 megawatts of electricity, which is enough power for about 35,000 typical homes. As the water exits the power plant, it flows into the nearby Lackawaxen River.
The ability of generation plants like Wallenpaupack to quickly respond to increases in electrical demand or fill in for large plants helps reduce stress on the electricity grid. PPL also can use the hydroelectric plant to manage lake levels in support of recreation or flood control, and to provide water to the Lackawaxen River in support of boating or fish habitat.
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PPL built Lake Wallenpaupack in 1926 as a hydroelectric plant. The project took 2,700 people about two years to complete, which included the construction of the dam, power plant, flow line and Tafton Dike. Once the dam was closed off, the reservoir took about seven months to fill to become Lake Wallenpaupack.
The Wallenpaupack hydroelectric plant is operated remotely from a control center 85 miles away in Allentown, Pa. The plant is owned by a subsidiary of PPL Generation, and had its operating license last renewed in July 2005 by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.
In addition to providing a water source for the generation of clean, renewable electricity, the 5,700-acre lake plays a critical role in regional water management. At 13 miles long and about 60 feet at its maximum depth, the lake also provides year-round recreation opportunities including camping, fishing, boating and water-skiing.
Its recreation benefits extend beyond the lake. Water released into the Lackawaxen River reduces its temperature in the summer, making it more suitable for some fish, most notably trout. Warmer lake water released to the Lackawaxen in winter leaves waters open so bald eagles can obtain food throughout the year, much to the delight of bird-watchers and other nature lovers. And water releases are scheduled at certain times of year to support boating and recreation on the river.
Lake Wallenpaupack also serves as a flood control resource for the Lackawaxen and Delaware rivers. The lake's ability to hold water and store it for gradual release at an appropriate time helps to limit the effects of flooding downstream. PPL manages the lake level, in accordance with its FERC license, to support recreational uses and provide the maximum water-storage capability at times when flooding is most likely to occur.
PPL owns most of Lake Wallenpaupack's shoreline and uses sound land management practices to help protect the quality of the lake's water and the natural beauty of the shoreline.
>> Learn more history about the dam
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PPL has confirmed that the Kipp Island eagles have three young eaglets in their nest.
This is a testament to the clean water and natural habitat here at Lake Wallenpaupack. We’re hopeful that these majestic eagles will continue to return to Kipp Island year after year to nest.
As part of PPL’s support for wildlife habitat around Lake Wallenpaupack, Kipp Island will be unavailable for recreational activities until the end of July to protect a bald eagle nesting area.
PPL is committed to supporting endangered and threatened species and all wildlife at Lake Wallenpaupack. Closing Kipp Island to protect the eagle nesting area is in accordance with federal regulations for this threatened species, and a key action to ensure that our national bird continues to nest here. It’s a source of a pride for the entire lake community. The Kipp Island nest is just one of the nests established by bald eagles and other threatened birds of prey in the Lake Wallenpaupack area.
Kipp Island, the second largest on the lake, will reopen for public recreation on August 1, when the nesting season for eagles has ended.
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Reel In and Recycle!
This spring, Tow Boat U.S. and the Lake Wallenpaupack Watershed Management District (LWWMD) are partnering to bring a new exciting program to Lake Wallenpaupack. Through funding by the Boat U.S. Foundation, they will be placing seven fishing line recycling containers at various locations around the lake.
Did you know that it takes over 500 years for monofilament fishing line to decompose? By making proper disposal of monofilament more accessible, it keeps the fishing line out of the water and off the shoreline. Less fishing line in the water means less chances it can get tangled around your boat prop or worse yet, marine life.
Containers will be placed at the PA Fish and Boat Commission ramp at Mangan Cove, the south end of the Tafton Dike, all 4 PPL Campgrounds (Caffrey, Ironwood Point, Ledgedale and Wilsonville), and the Wallenpaupack Lake Estates boat ramp. Please help make this program a success by bringing your old fishing line to a nearby container. If you live near a container and would like to volunteer to check it throughout the year, please contact LWWMD at 570-226-3865. For more information about Tow Boat U.S., visit www.newwavenrec.com. For more information about LWWMD, visit www.wallenpaupackwatershed.org.
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PPL Lake Wallenpaupack Office
126 PPL Drive
P.O. Box 122
Hawley, PA 18428-0122
1-877-PPL-LAKE (1-877-775-5253)
lakewallenpaupack@pplweb.com
Office hours: Available by appointment only between the hours of 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, and select Saturdays during the summer.
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Heather Hopkins
Policy Supervisor |
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Heather Hopkins is PPL’s Lake Wallenpaupack policy supervisor, responsible for managing the shoreline permitting system. She started with PPL in 2005.
Her main responsibilities include management of the lakes’ 1500 front-lot properties including community access, commercial, and residential. Management of these properties entails performing routine inspections of the shoreline to ensure compliance with PPL’s policies and local, state and federal regulations. She is also responsible for the issuance of shoreline use permits and License Agreements, and addressing and responding to all front lot owners’ questions and concerns. Heather also presents various programs to educate the public on PPL’s shoreline management program.
Heather's passion for protecting this beautiful resource goes beyond the office because the lake area is also where she calls home. She and her family reside in the Lake Wallenpaupack community.
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