History and Community

The Holtwood plant has been generating electricity since 1910, using the power of the water held back by a 55-foot-high dam across the Susquehanna River between Lancaster and York counties in south central Pennsylvania. The dam creates Lake Aldred, an 8-mile reservoir that provides opportunities for boating, fishing and other public recreation.

The Holtwood fish lifts — among the largest in the nation — are part of a multi-million-dollar project to enable the migrating American shad to continue their annual spring journey up the Susquehanna River to spawn.

The Holtwood Environmental Preserve  is home to nesting bald eagle pairs, which visitors can spot at an Eagle Watch or through reports from PPL consulting naturalist Jim Smith.

Behind the dam is 2,400-acre Lake Aldred, a popular boating and recreation area. PPL manages more than 5,000 acres of land in the area for soil, water and wildlife habitat preservation.