HAWLEY -  PPL, which owns and operates Lake Wallenpaupack, will open the spillway gates Monday to release water in a controlled manner as a means to restore the lake’s water storage capability, most of which has been used up by the heavy rainfall from two tropical storms in the last two weeks.

“Over the past two weeks, the lake has been holding water to reduce downstream water levels,” said Paul Hackenbrack, manager-Peaking Power for PPL Generation. “Now we need to release this water to re-establish storage capability in case we get significant additional rainfall in the weeks ahead.”

Before the arrival of Hurricane Irene on Aug. 27, Lake Wallenpaupack was at 63 percent of capacity and had more than 18 billion gallons of water storage capability.

Following heavy rainfall from Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee, the lake was at more than 90 percent of capacity as of 10 a.m. Friday (9/9).

Spillway gates will be opened at 10 a.m. Monday (9/12) to release 1,000 cubic feet per second through the spillway, which runs from the lake to the Lackawaxen River. The release rate will be increased gradually to 2,000 cubic feet per second, and held at that level.

The planned release is less than one-third of the maximum volume that can be released through the spillway gates. The release will continue until the lake reaches the level it was at before Hurricane Irene. It is expected to take until Sept. 20 to reach that level.

“We are notifying local officials and downstream residents of the planned release and will keep them informed throughout the process,” said Paul Canevari, PPL community relations director for the Pocono region. “We scheduled the release to start Monday so rain-swollen rivers and creeks in the watershed have a chance to subside.”

A scheduled drawdown of the lake this month, to conduct required testing of the dam and related facilities, has been postponed because of the rainfall and high water levels.