The Lake Wallenpaupack Watershed Management Plan

Completion of the Diagnostic-Feasibility Study in 1981 (see below) resulted in a comprehensive Watershed Management Plan. The Plan was updated in 2006. Key recommendations of the Watershed Management Plan were:

• Update Act 537 Wastewater Plans for all municipalities in the watershed to include decentralized wastewater recommendations.
• Continue to implement Best Management Practices (BMPs) in the watershed, in accordance with the PA Stormwater BMP Manual.
• Update the Act 167 Stormwater Plan for the Lake Wallenpaupack Watershed, including provisions from the PA Stormwater BMP Manual and Low-Impact Development techniques.
• Update and implement municipal ordinances designed to protect water quality throughout the watershed.
• Perform an aquatic plant survey in Lake Wallenpaupack.
• Develop a steady source of funding for the LWWMD to continue to implement the recommendations in the Watershed Management Plan.

To view the 2006 Lake Wallenpaupack Watershed Management Plan, click here.

Several extensive research initiatives have been sponsored by the LWWMD since 1979. Our management plan includes development and implementation of an environmental education program, implementation of agricultural BMPs, construction of stormwater control facilities for private communities, and implementation of streambank erosion controls. In 1990, the management plan won the "Watershed of the Year" award from the Conservation Districts of Pennsylvania. It also won first place in the "Take Pride in Pennsylvania" award. 

Click on the following links to see a brief description of some of the more important projects:

• Phase I Diagnostic Feasibility Study - This study was conducted using EPA Clean Lakes Program funding and included lake and stream monitoring which was used to develop a lake and watershed management plan.

• Phase II Restoration Program - This program was conducted using EPA Clean Lakes Program funding and included the implementation of agricultural BMPs, water control structures, streambank stabilization projects, and urban stormwater projects.  Public education was an important part of this project.

• 319 Nonpoint Source Program - LWWMD received DEP funded 319 nonpoint source control grants in 1995 and 1997 to continue the installation of watershed BMPs and continue the environmental education program. As part of the 1995 319 project, a successful high school curriculum was developed for use at the Wallenpaupack High School. 

• 104(b)3 Program - LWWMD received an EPA funded 104(b)3 grant and has been using this money to design and construct streambank, shoreline and stormwater BMPs.

• Special Studies - PP&L has funded a number of research studies that have been conducted by professors and graduate students from The Pennsylvania State University, specialists from the United States Geological Survey and professionals from F. X. Browne, Inc.  Most of these studies evaluate pollutant loadings from different land uses in the watershed.

• In 1998 and 1999, the LWWMD received a total of $2,200,000 from the two EPA grants. These grants were administered by the EPA and were used for watershed investigations, the development of pollutant budgets for Lake Wallenpaupack, additional lake and stream water quality monitoring, public education seminars and workshops, and the design and construction of Best Management Practices (BMPs) throughout the watershed to control nonpoint sources of pollution to Lake Wallenpaupack. This program is described in more detail under Nonpoint Source Problem Areas below.

Watershed investigations of the 219 square mile Lake Wallenpaupack watershed were conducted in 1999 and 2000 to assess present conditions and to develop a comprehensive list of problem areas. Once the problem areas were identified, they were carefully documented in the field using photographs, sketches, and field notes. The UTM coordinates were determined for each site, and a GIS database was developed to accurately map the sites. Severity ranking and recommended restoration practices were developed for each site. Over 300 NPS problem areas were identified under this program. The list of problem areas and the location map are being used by the LWWMD as tools for site selection and implementation of Best Management Practices. 

Typical erosion problems identified by the Lake Wallenpaupack Watershed Investigations include (click image for larger picture):
 

Streambank Erosion	Lakefront Erosion
Roadside Erosion

Learn more about these Nonpoint Source Problem Areas, including descriptions and photos by visiting the NPS Problem Area Index Page.

Numerous Best Management Practices have been installed throughout the Lake Wallenpaupack watershed. These practices include a mix of urban and agricultural stormwater management and agricultural waste management practices.

Learn more about these BMPs, including descriptions and photos by visiting the BMP Index Page or using the BMP Watershed Index Map.

F. X. Browne, Inc. is currently developing a Total Maximum Daily Load Study (TMDL) for Lake Wallenpaupack, sponsored by the Lake Wallenpaupack Watershed Management District and funded through the United States Environmental Protection Agency. Widely accepted water quality models were selected to complete this TMDL for selected nutrients, sediments, and mercury to comply with the requirements of Section 303d of the Clean Water Act. The models are being developed and calibrated using a combination of historical lake and stream water quality data and new, supplementary data including sediment chemical composition, additional water quality data, and atmospheric deposition.