Gentlemen
To set the record straight re: the Lehigh River. This river has world class potential that could surpass the Upper D in fishing quality if a few changes could be made by our legislators.
The only thing holding it back is the Army Corp of Engineers inablity to comply with environmental laws and regulations. The Francis E Walter reservoir that is located just above White Haven is an impoundment that is entirely underutilized recreationally. The Army Corp only fills the reservoir to an approx depth of 30 feet. This is an impoundment that has the potential to be a lake that is 150 feet deep if filled to capacity. The FEW is equipped with a bottom release valve. The issue is that the lake is not deep enough to create separation between cold and warm water. The other issue is the way the Army Corp releases water in "On/Off" methods. The army corp is mandated to maintain a 1300 foot elevation for the lake level for flood control. This is not even 2% capacity for the lake. Currnetly, it would virtually be able to hold 4 Hurricane Agnus (1972) storm precipitation amounts. During the summer months the water gets warmed by the lake and is then discharged to the river some 5-10 degrees warmer than what flows into the lake. The only thing allowing the trout to survive is the cold tributaries that feed the river.
Why is the lake maintained at that level?? When the FEW was built a road was constructed on the inside of the dam breast...lake side. If there was a heavy rain or snow melt and the water rose 10 ft the road would flood and residents would not have access to the other side. That is currently changing and the road is being moved to the top of the dam.
The Lehigh River Stocking Assoc (
www.lrsa.org) has done a tremedous amount of work to establish a fishery on the Lehigh. Were Andre fished this section is stocked by the PA Fish Commission. Through the Gorge and into the Lower river below Jim Thorpe the LRSA and another organization stock the river.
Is this another Upper Delaware fiasco in regards to flow management...NO!! There is no drinking water issues, NYDEP and 5 state bodies to deal with. Only one agency....the Army Corp. This mismanagement is a crime to fisherman in PA and anyone with in a 3hr drive of the Lehigh. Our PA Fish Commission and DCNR are to Lame to step up to the plate and pursuade the Army Corp to fill the FEW. Any changes that are to be made must come from Congress in Washington. They must change the policy on how the FEW is operated...untill then the Army corp will do nothing unless they are ordered to do it no matter what LAW has been written. The LRSA even sued the Army Corp over the law violations which was ultimately thrown out in court by the federal judge....go figure?
If you never fished the river, I suggested you try to fish it in April May June timeframe. The size, ruggedness and beauty are half of the experience. The fish and abundant aquatic live are just a bonus....but we could possibly have a Missouri River (Montana) in our backyards if policies could be changed.
If you want to see these changes contact your congressman or PA Rep Kieth McCall and PA Rep Kanjorski to voice your opinion. They are aware of the situation and trying to make the changes discussed but we need to show the support behind such changes. Also, if you have fished the lower river I urge you to support the LRSA. They do a lot more than just stock it with fish. Check out their website for more information.
If you would like more information or can help in anyway to get the changes discussed above, please feel free to email me at
info@flyfishpa.net
Hope this gives you some insight on the Lehigh
