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Time of Travel of Releases From Lake Wallenpaupack to the U.S. Geological Survey’s Streamgage Monitoring Location on the Delaware River at Montague, New Jersey

Scientific Investigations Report 2025-5026
Prepared in cooperation with the Office of the Delaware River Master
By: , , and 
https://doi.org/10.3133/sir20255026

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Abstract

In 2016, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) carried out a hydraulic study within the upper Delaware River Basin for the purpose of determining the time of travel for water releases from the Brookfield Renewable U.S. hydroelectric plant at Lake Wallenpaupack, Pennsylvania, to reach the USGS streamgage located on the Delaware River at Montague, New Jersey (site number 01438500). From September 19 to October 14, 2016, Brookfield Renewable initiated repeated releases of approximately 650 cubic feet per second (ft3/s) and 1,440 ft3/s. Hydraulic signals from the releases were tracked at nine key locations between Lake Wallenpaupack and the USGS streamgage at Montague, New Jersey (01438500). Gage height data were recorded at streamgages at major confluences of the Lackawaxen and Delaware Rivers, Mongaup and Delaware Rivers, and the Neversink and Delaware Rivers. The time of travel to the USGS streamgage at Montague, New Jersey, was determined to be 1,185 minutes during the approximately 650 ft3/s releases and 960 minutes during the approximately 1,440 ft3/s releases. Elevated streamflow between Lake Wallenpaupack and the Montague streamgage from runoff events prior to the dam releases was found to decrease calculated time of travel identified during the study. The results from this study can be used as a guide to estimate time of travel while considering the water level of downstream streamflow, the volume of water being released, and other outside influences, such as precipitation and snowmelt.

Suggested Citation

Polcino, J., Trainor, J.J., and Collenburg, J.V., 2025, Time of travel of releases from Lake Wallenpaupack to the U.S. Geological Survey’s streamgage monitoring location on the Delaware River at Montague, New Jersey: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2025–5026, 20 p., https://doi.org/10.3133/sir20255026.

ISSN: 2328-0328 (online)

Study Area

Table of Contents

  • Acknowledgments
  • Abstract
  • Introduction
  • Purpose and Scope
  • Methods and Approach
  • Interpretation and Methodology
  • Results
  • Summary
  • References Cited
Publication type Report
Publication Subtype USGS Numbered Series
Title Time of travel of releases from Lake Wallenpaupack to the U.S. Geological Survey’s streamgage monitoring location on the Delaware River at Montague, New Jersey
Series title Scientific Investigations Report
Series number 2025-5026
DOI 10.3133/sir20255026
Publication Date April 09, 2025
Year Published 2025
Publisher U.S. Geological Survey
Publisher location Reston, VA
Contributing office(s) New Jersey Water Science Center
Description vii, 20 p.
Country United States
State New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania
Other Geospatial Delaware River, Lake Wallenpaupack
Online Only (Y/N) Y
Additional Online Files (Y/N) N
Additional publication details