Francis E. Walter Dam (28-Nov-2016)

Francis E. Walter Dam is part of the same network of reservoirs as Beltzville Lake, this network is utilized when water levels in the Delaware are low. There purpose is to keep the Delaware River with enough flow to push saltwater away from Philadelphia's drinking water intake. For some reason I was under the impression that they also kept saltwater out of power generating facilities intakes and they are not. With Beltzville so low, I thought I would go check out Francis Walter and see what I could find on the lakebed there. At Francis Walter when the water level is low a road is opened that allows you to drive through and park on the lakebed. When the water level is high the same road acts as a boat launch. After parking I headed to the right in the photo above. As you can see the left side really is not that accessible for hiking. 

I began finding items right away. This was something different. The coffee cups, placed under a rock, that contained corn cans. Was there a point to this or was it just a failed attempt to hide the trash?

There were no large piles of trash. Everything was spread out and some items were hard to see, even with this barren environment.

There was a good number of older cans. Pull tabs haven't been sold for decades and are a testament to the longevity of these items in even aquatic environments. When something man made is thrown out, it just doesn't disappear. 

Picked up a couple clumps of line. I think if I walked the high edge of the lake at the brush line I may have found more. 

For this find I could just imagine two hikers taking a break, enjoying the view across the lake, then leaving these two full bottles behind. The bottles showed the lake has been low for some time. The labels were sun bleached and the way they were set they were placed, not washed up. 

This is something I do not want to find anymore. Lakes, rivers, streams and their banks are not the proper place to dispose of diapers. These items take a long time to biodegrade and fresh ones can potentially be health hazards. 

On my way out the sun was angled right over the tower on the dam. It was an interesting sight. 

Before making it to my car I picked up this not. Procrastination, Anxiety, Jealousy, Anger, did I pick up someones thrown away bad habits. I think Procrastination at least rubbed off on me because this post is going up over a month late. 

The last view of the lake before I headed out. 

This was everything. I was hoping there would be a trash can at one of the parking lots around the dam. There was not, so I had to take and dispose of everything for this trip. 
You too can help with taking out the trash! If you get out hiking take a grocery bag with you, give it a second use and fill it with trash while you are out! Every bit helps. You can also help contributing to this project here: Help Fund Taking Out the Trash

Like this project? Like it on Facebook: Taking Out the Trash in Eastern PA

Francis E. Walter Dam (14-Nov-2015)

The second trip out today. I decided this afternoon to do a run to Francis E. Walter Dam. Two hikes, one on each side of the dam, didn't yield that much trash. A pack full both hikes and the above is half of the total collected on these hikes. 

The small falls that lead down to the dam were spectacular today, not a single piece of trash was found around them! 

The reservoir right now is drawn down and you can drive right through the bottom. There is even a parking lot. I never park at the bottom. I just imagine being off hiking and watching the water rise over my car from a distance. That's just me though, I am sure it is perfectly safe to park there.  

Small piles here and there walking the road. 

 What a view.

All of these that I have found this year still look like they were on store shelves yesterday. Some readers might not even know what this is. 

From my view this is where the Lehigh River begins. I know on a map it extends past the backed up waters of the dam, but I ignore that and believe this is the start. From this point to White Haven is the only stretch of the Lehigh I have never paddled. Way to late this year. I have to make it a priority next! 

This is the furthest up the river trash can enter and it is also a popular fishing hole. Grabbed all the trash I could see. 

Seeing this really makes me want to paddle it! Seeing the trees, shows me it is the wrong time. 

Rocks to the sky. Francis E. Walter Dam is a place to see and there are places to hike around. Just please take out everything you bring in. Also, remember that the dam is surrounded by State Gamelands, know the laws and hunting seasons. 

You too can help with taking out the trash! If you get out hiking take a grocery bag with you, give it a second use and fill it with trash while you are out! Every bit helps. You can also help contributing to this project at:gofundme.com/takingoutthetrash