Holtwood has long been a playboaters dream, any boaters who have gotten a taste of the Susquehana rivers whitewater below the holtwood dam knows that this is a gem. In 2006 PPL the owner of the Holtwood hydroelectric power plant applied for a permit to expand and make the 100+ year old plant more efficent and cost effective. The project includes enhancing the shad passage by giving them a low velocity passageway to the fish ladder. The Piney channel is the home of stormhole, one of Holtwoods preimum playspots. This channel has been under extencive exavation but stormhole has been left untouched as per the deal with the boaters and AW in hopes that it will be the same great hole it was. With the addition of the new unit one turbine the days of natural flows in the area will be cut down controlled by the powerplant and the new turbine. So to make up for the loss of recreation days PPL has signed an agreement adding two new features to make up for the loss of natural flow days. Alot has gone into getting to this point with a great group of local boater, and Kevin Colburn from American Whitewater working hard to make this happen, and acting as the watchdog for future boaters. As it stands we are planning on doing the next flow study this spring. If the project stays on track.
