Army Corps Plans Raystown Lake Drawdown Beginning Oct. 23

Harrisburg Lancaster Lebanon York, PA, October 18, 2026 —

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers plans to begin a controlled drawdown of Raystown Lake in Huntingdon County on Oct. 23. The effort is intended to bring the lake to a target water level by November, according to the information provided.

The announcement does not specify the year for the Oct. 23 start date or identify the precise date in November by which the target level is expected to be reached. It also does not provide the target elevation, how much the water level is expected to change, or how long the drawdown will take.

No reason for the drawdown was included in the summary. Details about the method, the pace of the water-level reduction and any expected effects on lake access or recreation were also not provided. The information does not state whether additional updates or guidance for visitors will be issued.

The plan is described as a controlled drawdown, with the stated objective of reaching a designated water level by November. However, the specific level and the operational details remain unclear from the information available. The Corps is identified as the agency that will conduct the work, and Raystown Lake’s location is given as Huntingdon County.

Further details, including the calendar year, target level and reason for the operation, were not included in the trend summary. No information was provided about monitoring, access changes or what will happen after the lake reaches its target level.

Story summarized from the original created by Kaylee Lindenmuth on www.abc27.com, see more information here.

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