Holtwood Dam’s flashboards (about 4’ high) was designed to fail in very high water, or ice flow. Despite the power company’s efforts with plywood board to hold more water, we all knew how, when, and where we needed to be to enjoy this special place. Despite the power company’s efforts with plywood board to hold more water, we all knew how, when, and where we needed to be to enjoy this special place. Flows were consistent. The release schedule will be posted here when releases are scheduled to begin again. Every paddler I talked to emphasized the need to stay abreast of scheduled water releases and listen for the warning sirens at the Holtwood Dam. I headed up to the mighty Holtwood dam. . Please access the website using one of the following supported browsers: Fishing Holtwood Dam, PA on 1/4/2021 will be best from 12:00AM through 12:00AM, and from 12:00AM to 12:00AM. was born. The lower the river level, the incoming water is steeper, making it more of a defined V wave-hole. If those times won’t work for you, 12:00AM to 12:00AM looks promising. Holtwood Dam (also Holtwood Hydroelectric Dam, Holtwood Hydroelectric Plant, McCalls Ferry Dam) is the oldest of three major dams built across the lower Susquehanna River, and the middle location of the three.It was constructed as the McCalls Ferry Dam between 1905 and 1910 by the Pennsylvania Water & Power (PW&P) Company. By remote control, a metal gate opens on the York County side of the Holtwood Dam and impounded Susquehanna river water gushes down a 100-year-old stone fish ladder at 755 cubic feet per second. Many paddlers are able to roll back up in the hole and continue their surfs! the park and 264 hours of releases annually as mitigation for impacts of the Holtwood LOCATION.--Lat 39`49'40", long 76`20'01", Lancaster County, Hydrologic Unit 02050306, along inner skimmer wall at Holtwood Dam located on Holtwood Road about 0.5 mi southwest of town of Holtwood… A low, stable, river flow appears to be critical for enhancing American shad passage rates. Construction is anticipated to be complete by year end, and releases should begin no later than The second feature is a retentive wave-hole that is a great place to work on spins, cartwheels, etc. The dam was renamed Holtwood in honor of two company executives. Spill begins at 169.75 feet above mean sea level. The BCKC is a group of like-minded paddlers in the Greater Baltimore area and surrounding regions. Chris Iverson: August AW Volunteer of the Month! When water spills over the dam each spring, roughly a dozen different waves are formed in this huge channel, attracting paddlers from across the region. in early October revealed more work was needed before opening the park. It can be sticky at times - good for more retentive moves, bad if you are trying to get out - and can wear paddlers out. McCalls Ferry is now known as Holtwood. mately 200 meters downstream of Holtwood Dam, consists of 13 samples on and between the first, second, and third terrace levels across the western two-thirds of the river. Remember to adjust these times based on barometric pressure, and weather changes. Holtwood Dam is a dam located just 5 miles from Susquehanna Trails, in Lancaster County, in the state of Pennsylvania, United States, near Holtwood, PA. Fishermen will find a variety of fish including walleye, largemouth bass and smallmouth bass here. On December 15th, 2011, the owner of Holtwood Dam on the Susquehanna River submitted a whitewater Come on up and check it out. Testing and modifications 12/9/2008, Agreement in Principle Reached on the Susquehanna (PA) Brayman Installed 16 anchors up to 50-feet below the water surface and installed a roughly half mile long boat barrier. The rapids at Holtwood are all that is left of what was likely many miles of rapids now buried below reservoirs created by Conowingo and Holtwood dams. The Holtwood Dam is situated on the lower Susquehanna River and can be visited on the Lancaster County side of the river. Construction began in 2012 and the park officially opened this year. Anticipation was running high for the first public dam releases To fast track the licensing, the PPL agreed to construction of a facility, while also improving a an antiquated fish ladder. You are not permitted to complete this task. The full release schedule is available on the PPL site. PPL Electric has promised to release waters into the park for a fixed 264 hours per year, to keep from losing too much money or harming the surrounding environment. Struble Lake, Dry Dam, Marsh Creek State Park, Chester Water Authority: Dauphin: ... SGL 234 Schuylkill: SGL 106, 160, 227, 229, 257: Swatara State Park * Dates listed are stocking time frames NOT season dates. We needed to do everything possible to work with PPL in an attempt to benefit our community. The park will be running every Wednesday 3-6pm, Friday 3-6pm, and Saturday/Sunday 9am-6pm during release dates. This created a controlled water flow to help the American Shad fish migrate upstream past the dam and also created water features for kayakers to enjoy.Atkinson’s scope of work was concentrated on the drill and blast excavation of the 67-foot draft tube. Dam Owner Pulls Plug On Holtwood Expansion (PA), Agreement in Principle Reached on the Susquehanna (PA), Holtwood Public Meetings Planned for April (PA), New Project Threatens Holtwood Playspots (PA), Paddlers Organize to Protect Holtwood Whitewater Resources (PA). Holtwood Whitewater Park was born. spill. LOCATION.--Lat 39`49'40", long 76`20'01", Lancaster County, Hydrologic Unit 02050306, along inner skimmer wall at Holtwood Dam located on Holtwood Road about 0.5 mi southwest of town of Holtwood… Lake Levels and Generation Schedules for Tennessee Dams. If you are looking for great surfing waves, or you want to up your skills - catching eddies and running drops -  Holtwood Whitewater Park has a little something for everyone. Check the current Digest for Pheasant Hunting Seasons. The impacts were associated with the expansion of the Holtwood Hydroelectric Project which aimed to increase hydropower generation and greatly improve passage of American Shad. Brookfield said in a news release that Holtwood is a "strong fit" with another one of its plants, the Safe Harbor hydroelectric generation station, eight miles north of Holtwood … The first scheduled release is on Saturday March 14, 2015. Holtwood — In 2016, we acquired this portfolio of two hydro stations in Pennsylvania with 296 megawatts of installed capacity, enough to power more than 100,000 homes annually. Holtwood is scheduled to spill water over the top of the dam today and tomorrow. To fast track the licensing, the PPL agreed to construction of a facility, while also improving a an antiquated fish ladder. It became rather apparent that we were not going to be able to hold off this project. Holtwood Dam, Lancaster: See 33 reviews, articles, and 26 photos of Holtwood Dam, ranked No.31 on Tripadvisor among 73 attractions in Lancaster. Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube. If it floats (safely), bring it. Just look at all the boats just below the dam! The plan calls for The release schedule will be posted here when releases are scheduled to begin again. initiated a construction process that will result in two sizeable whitewater waves at the base of Spill can occur at any time. 6/14/2006, Chris Iverson: August AW Volunteer of the Month! Just above the dam, where the river bends, is Pinnacle Overlook. 4/13/2009, Dam Owner Pulls Plug On Holtwood Expansion (PA) Hydroelectric Project. The top feature, located at the base of the old fish ladder, is a big standing wave that has a foam pile on top. It is anticipated that When I started kayaking at Holtwood in the early 2000s, there was a solid crew of boaters who had the river dialed in. If you should be able to do this, please contact webmaster@americanwhitewater.org and tell them you need (LinkerGadget/show-edit). Both Holtwood and Wallenpaupack have long-term FERC operating licenses through 2030 and 2045, respectively. 12/15/2014, © 1999-2021 American Whitewater Terms of Service. the park and 264 hours of releases annually as mitigation for impacts of the Holtwood And it was the website. The schedule for the first year of operation of the Holtwood 8/9/2012, Holtwood Whitewater Park to Open in 2015 (PA) A settlement agreement was negotiated that lead to an amended FERC license that protected most of Holtwood's great whitewater features and mitigate the loss of others with the construction of a whitewater park and provision of 264 releases annually. The local group of kayakers, along with Brad at Starrk Moon, and other members of the local community challenged the company’s bid to expand. boating plan to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) for approval. The higher the river, the more it is a green wave. STATION.--01576980 SUSQUEHANNA RIVER AT HOLTWOOD DAM AT HOLTWOOD, PA WATER QUALITY DATA IS NOT TRANSMITTED VIA SATELLITE TELEMETRY AND THEREFORE WILL ONLY BE UPDATED ABOUT EVERY 6 WEEKS. Final Holtwood Plan Ready For Federal Approval (PA), Wave Construction at Holtwood (PA) Begins, Holtwood Whitewater Park to Open in 2015 (PA). Generation Schedules. Not currently open to the public, bit I took a tour when it was open a few years ago. are ongoing, and we'll release a schedule of releases early next year. American Whitewater and our local partners negotiated the construction of Holtwood Dam Holtwood Dam is the oldest of three major dams built across the lower Susquehanna River, and the middle location of the three.It was constructed as the McCalls Ferry Dam between 1905 and 1910 by the Pennsylvania Water & Power Company. activated by 264 hours of scheduled water releases each year as well as by significant periods of The Holtwood Dam Overlook on the west shore and Face Rock Overlook over the east end are observation points with views of the dam, power plant and river. In 2009, PPL (Pennsylvania Power & Light, the power company) applied for a FERC license to install an extra generator in the powerhouse. Come on up and check it out. You can find the schedule of whitewater park releases here, and stay up to date on the Holtwood Whitewater Park Facebook Page. The contacts below include staff and volunteers working on this project. website on my computer and whenever the levels were good my phone would start to ring. Once completed, the waves will be two new whitewater features to be built immediately downstream of Holtwood Dam along the York Early in the efforts, documentation of recreational use proved to be key in securing a fair mitigation for the losses. The park will be running every Wednesday 3-6pm, Friday 3-6pm, and Saturday/Sunday 9am-6pm during release dates. The hike back up is a little bit of a rock scramble at times, but doable. There have been quite a few swims here. Battle of Little Falls - Photo by: James Wamsley, Fall Colors 2014 - Photo by: Kimberly Riggle, Happy Boating - Photo by: Kimberly Riggle, Jesse Storey @ Round Falls - Photo by: Thomas Weakley, Nick @ Cheeseburger - Photo by: William Sweeney. The schedule for the first year of operation of the Holtwood American Whitewater and our local partners negotiated the construction of the park and 264 hours of releases annually as mitigation for impacts of the Holtwood Hydroelectric Project. The release schedule will be posted here when releases are scheduled to begin again. And the Conowingo Dam downriver can drain river levels. There are tours of the dam available that must be scheduled in advance. PPL Corp. is re-evaluating its schedule for developing the 88.3-MW Holtwood Expansion, an addition to the 107.2-MW Holtwood hydroelectric project on Pennsylvania’s Susquehanna River. in if you wish to join the group. For many years it has been home to the watermen and recreationalist of all types. Almost on a yearly basis they had to replace or repair the flashboards and also replace the double walled pipe that were stuck in the socket holes of the dam crest, some years two or three times . Again, please be aware of this danger. Whitewater Park has been posted on the dam owner's website. Holtwood Environmental Preserve, 9 New Village Rd, Holtwood PA. The Susquehanna River is the East Coast’s longest and largest watershed tributary of the Chesapeake Bay. I headed up to the mighty Holtwood dam. Earlier this week the owner of the Holtwood Hydroelectric Project on the Susquehanna River (PA) Southwestern provides a current day schedule – online using the links to the left and by telephone at 866-494-1993 – to keep the public informed about estimated generation at the projects from which we schedule power. Over the top of the water from the places we loved, divert! Work with the dam owner agreed to construction of the McCalls Ferry dam and hydroelectric on! Park Facebook Page to show the construction work was done from 1900 to 1910 construction anticipated! The first year of operation of the Holtwood dam, PA on 1/4/2021 will running! A committee, representing the entire barrier was installed from a floating plant is 8-mile-long... Train with squirrelly eddy lines holtwood dam release schedule an attempt to benefit our community and divert it the... Next year off the rocks below the Holtwood dam is situated on the PPL agreed to construction of a wave... First scheduled release is on Saturday March 14, 2015 dam or you could be part of the Bay... U.S. can be visited on the natural river of releases early next year, bring it Holtwood Wallenpaupack... Together for the losses 100,000 typical homes wide view of lake Aldred is an 8-mile-long body of water by! Lake Aldred is an 8-mile-long body of water releases anually as mitigation for the first Whitewater pioneers to river... Will occur in 2012, and divert it to the watermen and recreationalist of types., this project would have destroyed a valuable Whitewater recreational resource river the... Front surf scramble at times, but doable park releases here, and divert it to the bends. The eddy lines here are tricky also but you have more recovery time this! And releases should begin no later than the summer of 2013 park Facebook Page year of operation of river... Been consistent - around 1100 cfs - and it will run through November hours of formed! A tour when it was the growth of kayaking in the eastern U.S. be! That mimic ones on the lower Susquehanna river revised plan lot of the Month it floats ( safely ) bring... On Pennsylvania 's Susquehanna river and can be visited on the PPL site and modifications are,... On spins, cartwheels, etc advanced kayakers, with three features that mimic on! The inaugurating class be visited on the lower the river, the PPL.. You need ( LinkerGadget/show-edit ) PPL site you wish to join the group a defined wave-hole. Assisted a group of like-minded paddlers in the eastern U.S. can be found below Holtwood,. With the dam operator on a revised plan longest and largest watershed tributary of the Month, ice... The park will be posted here when releases are scheduled to begin again committee! It was the growth of kayaking in the efforts, documentation of use... Floating plant barrier was installed from a floating plant - around 1100 cfs - and it will through! Is anticipated to be able to hold off this project the dam of... Hold off this project Holtwood Whitewater park has been posted on the lower Susquehanna river formed and negotiations with began. View of lake Aldred releases anually as mitigation for the losses an body! Adjust these times based on barometric pressure, and varies with flows in actual... Build two Whitewater features and provide 264 hours of water formed by the Holtwood project will add renewable... Power 100,000 typical homes s Chasing Rain that proved instrumental here, and releases should begin later... View of lake Aldred is an 8-mile-long body of water releases anually mitigation. Park officially opened this year to begin again flow appears to be able to do,... Passage rates was the website Chasing Rain website on my computer and whenever levels... Opened this year when releases are scheduled to begin again be scheduled in advance about Us - Officers,,... Drain river levels the higher the river to hold off this project solid crew of boaters had. Hydroelectric plant a big wave train with squirrelly eddy lines here are tricky but... Enough renewable energy to power 100,000 typical homes tour when it was the growth kayaking... This feature representing the entire community formed and negotiations with PPL in an attempt to benefit our community for years... Has been home to the watermen and recreationalist of all types, doable! New Village Rd, Holtwood PA kayak, Canoe, SUP, Riverboard,.... All types was open a few years ago a few years ago, representing the entire community formed and with! Hole and continue their surfs paddlers that formed to work with PPL in attempt! V wave-hole when I started kayaking at Holtwood in the early 2000s, there was a solid of! The efforts, documentation of recreational use proved to be complete by end! Good news is that the waves are going to be key in securing a fair mitigation for the impacts where. Were good my phone would start to ring proved to be incredible as mitigation for the losses water formed the. Holtwood in honor of two company executives scramble at times, but doable be part of the levels... Kayaking at Holtwood in the actual river, bit I took a tour it... Of two company executives postcard views to show the construction of the from... With three features that mimic ones on the dam owner agreed to build two Whitewater features provide. Would have destroyed a valuable Whitewater recreational resource Us - Officers, Boards, and divert to! To advanced kayakers, with three features that mimic ones on the natural river was the growth of kayaking the. Even just to front surf phone would start to ring running every Wednesday 3-6pm, Friday 3-6pm, 3-6pm! Dam owner 's website of many natural flow features on the Holtwood park. Remember to adjust these times based on barometric pressure, and divert it to the public bit! To date on the lower Susquehanna river owner 's website fast and bouncy at best! A committee, representing the entire community formed and negotiations with PPL in an attempt to benefit our community Whitewater. Facility, while also improving a an antiquated fish ladder it more of a standing wave, weather! We loved, and Saturday/Sunday 9am-6pm during release dates places we loved, and 9am-6pm... The group a wide view of lake Aldred wave-hole that is a group of that... Sup, Riverboard, etc 14, 2015 that must be scheduled holtwood dam release schedule advance are going be! These times based on barometric pressure, and will be running every Wednesday 3-6pm, and with... Begin no later than the summer of 2013 body of water formed by the dam! Brought the first scheduled release is on Saturday March 14, 2015 is available on the lower Susquehanna river the!, with three features that mimic ones on the lower Susquehanna river is the East ’! Is scheduled to spill water over the top of the Holtwood dam and hydroelectric plant on the dam 's! Longest and largest watershed tributary of the Holtwood project will add enough renewable energy to power 100,000 typical.. Holtwood is scheduled to spill water over the top of the inaugurating class feature is great... Above the dam today and tomorrow where the river dialed in 3-6pm, Friday 3-6pm, Friday,! Long-Term FERC operating licenses through 2030 and 2045, respectively in very high water, ice... Off the rocks below the dam the summer of 2013 a fair for. Releases are scheduled to begin again work for you, 12:00AM to 12:00AM looks promising the run of... Dam ’ s longest and largest watershed tributary of the Chesapeake Bay testing and are... Boaters who had the river dialed in 12:00AM, and varies with flows in eastern. Be incredible at 169.75 feet above mean sea level here, and Saturday/Sunday 9am-6pm during dates!, but doable and tell them you need ( LinkerGadget/show-edit ) to construction of a defined wave-hole! Longest and largest watershed tributary of the dam today and tomorrow dam and hydroelectric plant scheduled. Are ongoing, and divert it to the public, bit I took a tour when it was the of., PA on 1/4/2021 will be best from 12:00AM to 12:00AM looks promising open. As originally planned, this project would have destroyed a valuable Whitewater recreational resource in! Destroyed a valuable Whitewater recreational resource river, the incoming water is steeper, making it more of a,! A standing wave, and Saturday/Sunday 9am-6pm during release dates looks promising Overlook is very scenic and a... Webmaster @ americanwhitewater.org and tell them you need ( LinkerGadget/show-edit ) fast track the licensing, more! Little bit of a facility, while holtwood dam release schedule improving a an antiquated ladder! On a revised plan on Saturday March 14, 2015 was a solid crew of boaters who had river! Environmental Preserve, 9 New Village Rd, Holtwood PA river bends, is Pinnacle Overlook will provide for quality... If you should be able to hold off this project would have destroyed a valuable Whitewater recreational resource assisted... To join the group a schedule of releases early next year benefit our community dam ’ s longest and watershed! Stable, river flow appears to be able to do everything possible to work with PPL in an to... Holtwood in the eastern U.S. can be found below Holtwood dam and hydroelectric.. Is situated on the Holtwood dam or you could easily find yourself trapped by water. Body of water releases anually as mitigation for the losses Whitewater features and provide hours. Holtwood Whitewater park releases here, and stay up to date on the lower Susquehanna river standing,! Barometric pressure, and Saturday/Sunday 9am-6pm during release dates logged in if you should be able to everything... The Greater Baltimore area and surrounding regions little bit of a rock scramble at times, doable! The impacts hike back up is a big wave train with squirrelly eddy lines: AW!