Mission

According to the LWWMD By-Laws, "The District is incorporated for the following purposes:

* To perform diagnostic studies to evaluate Lake Wallenpaupack and its watershed, determine pollutant sources of Lake Wallenpaupack, develop a watershed management plan and implement a continuing watershed management program for Lake Wallenpaupack.

* To implement the best management practices to control pollutant loadings to Lake Wallenpaupack; such organic materials, heavy metals, pesticides and other toxic or harmful material.

* To do any and all things necessary to protect or improve the Lake and its tributaries.

* To protect public health, welfare and public rights at Lake Wallenpaupack.

* To promote environmental values and to provide for orderly Lake and watershed management at Lake Wallenpaupack.

* To make contracts, accept gifts and donations, purchase, lease, hold, or dispose of real or personal property, disburse money, contract debts and initiate studies to accomplish the aforesaid purposes."
The area that is now Lake Wallenpaupack was once only a creek, winding its way through the bowl-like, wooded terrain of what is now the Lake Wallenpaupack watershed. The creek was known to the Leni-Lenape Indians as "Wallenpaupack," which means "the stream of swift and slow water."
Pennsylvania Power & Light Co. dammed the creek and built the lake in 1926 to supply water for a hydroelectric power plant. Building the lake was a monumental task, considering that mules and steam engines were the only source of power for construction projects in those days. It took 2,700 people about two years to do the job. Farms, barns and houses in the lake bed were demolished or moved, trees were cut down, utility poles and 17 miles of roadway were moved, and a cemetery was relocated. Wallenpaupack creek was rerouted while the concrete dam was being built. PP&L also built a dike at Tafton to fill out the lake bed. Once the dam and dike were completed, the stream was allowed to resume its course and fill the lake with water. Lake Wallenpaupack is approximately 5,700 acres in size and has a watershed that encompasses 219 square miles spread over four counties and 14 townships. The lake has approximately 52 miles of shoreline and has an average depth of 29.5 feet. Today, PPLs Wallenpaupack Hydroelectric Plant is capable of making 44,000 kilowatts of electricity per day. Lake Wallenpaupack is a vital resource in the Pocono Mountains region of northeastern Pennsylvania. Lake Wallenpaupack is used extensively for water-related activities such as swimming, fishing, boating, and snowmobiling. It is one of the few lakes in the Poconos that is big enough to allow water-skiing. Public access is provided by the many resorts and motels, public recreation areas, and picnic and nature areas that surround the lake. Lake Wallenpaupack is within vacationing distance of millions of inhabitants of the mid-Atlantic states. Philadelphia, New York City, Trenton, Scranton and Wilkes - Barre are all located within 100 miles of Lake Wallenpaupack, and the lake receives substantial use by these city residents. Lake usage has increased dramatically since the mid 1980's. Since 1985 the number of boat registrations in Pike and Wayne Counties have at least doubled and the number of boat slips on Lake Wallenpaupack has increased by at least 250 percent.